Chapter History
Four Chapters, One Mission
The History of the La Puerta de Oro-San Francisco Chapter, NSDAR: A California Legacy
The La Puerta de Oro-San Francisco Chapter, NSDAR, has been a part of San Francisco and the NSDAR since 1891; just 41 years after California’s admission to the United States and only a year after the founding of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1890. The chapter can trace its legacy back over 125 years and was the sixth NSDAR chapter in the country. On June 16, 2000, La Puerta de Oro Chapter, NSDAR, merged with the San Francisco Chapter, NSDAR. Then in January 2004, the Sequoia Chapter, and California Chapter, NSDAR, merged into La Puerta de Oro-San Francisco Chapter, NSDAR, which continues the mission of the National Society. Today, with the legacies of all four chapters, as well as that of our national organization, our Daughters look ahead to the many projects and efforts to continue the vision of our founders.
1891 - THE SEQUOIA CHAPTER, NSDAR
The Sequoia Chapter, NSDAR, was the first DAR chapter in the state of California, organized in 1891. In 1891, in response to the rapid growth of the NSDAR, it was decided that states needed regents. After being nominated by President General Caroline Scott Harrison, Sarah Isabelle Hubbard was elected California state regent on September 14 of that same year. Soon thereafter, on December 10, Mrs. Hubbard organized the first chapter in California with Mrs. William Alvord as regent, at a large gathering at the grand Nob Hill home of Ellen Mason Colton. Among the charter members were Mrs. Leland Stanford and Nancy Malinda Lynde, a Real Daughter.
The name of Sequoia Chapter, NSDAR was adopted at the first meeting, held January 6, 1892, at the home of Mrs. Lizzie Horsburgh, 1522 Washington Street. The chapter was the sixth in the country. Work began in earnest on the NSDAR mission. A chapter library was begun within months and grew steadily; however, all the volumes were lost in the 1906 fire.
On Lexington Day, April 19, 1896, members planted the Liberty Tree near the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. The ceremony was held amid much festivity, and soil was added from Revolutionary War battlefields, Mount Vernon, and other historic spots. Mrs. Hubbard next proposed the idea of planting an arch of trees in the park, one tree from each of the original thirteen states. Eastern chapters responded readily, sending the trees by train. Under the supervision of John McLaren, with thousands of citizens in attendance, the planting was accomplished on Yorktown Day, October 19, 1896. Again, soils were added from historic sites, including from the grave of Lafayette in Paris. The grove has twice been rededicated and now has its thirteen trees, four of which date from 1896.
Sequoia Chapter, NSDAR, participated in the fundraising for the procurement of the Houdon statue of George Washington, presenting it to the City of San Francisco on Decoration Day in 1917. Local historic sites have been marked over the years by the Sequoia Chapter, NSDAR, including the Inner Signal Station of 1849 on Telegraph Hill, in 1929. In 1939, members served as hostesses in the DAR room at the International Exposition on Treasure Island.
The chapter was active during war times with activities such as knitting garments, preparing surgical dressings, working at the Red Cross, selling War Savings Stamps at a booth on Market Street, organizing events to entertain troops, and much more. Other activities over the years included copying gravestone inscriptions in a section of Laurel Hill (Lone Mountain) Cemetery. After World War I, chapter member Ethel Sperry Crocker undertook the restoration of the French village of Tilloloy. We have Mrs. Crocker’s insignia pin, an important item of our memorabilia. Our chapter is also fortunate to have our original 1892 charter, carefully preserved over so many generations. In 1954-55, as part of the civic effort to restore vital records destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, Sequoia Chapter, NSDAR, members copied information from old newspapers. Many donations have been made by chapter members to the NSDAR Museum, including Revolutionary War-era items, such as a fife carried during the Revolutionary War. Support and education of our youth was always a focus, with donations to DAR Schools and recognition of outstanding students locally.
SAN FRANCISCO -The California Chapter, NSDAR, of San Francisco was organized in 1896.
California Chapter, NSDAR, the third oldest of our parent chapters, was organized on April 16, 189,6 at the home of Mrs. Joseph L. Moody. The name was chosen to honor our state, then approaching its 50th anniversary. Mrs. Moody later served in many other capacities and continued to hold meetings at her gracious home at 3522 Clay Street. One of the first acts of the chapter was on October 19 of that year, to present and plant the first tree, a sequoia, at the Colonial Arch of Trees in Golden Gate Park. This elaborate and well-attended event was organized by our own Sequoia Chapter, NSDAR.
For the October 25 chapter meeting, members took the ferry over to Berkeley, meeting at the home of Mrs. Davenport, at 2323 College Avenue. This beautiful home is now part of the University of California Berkeley campus. Regent A. L. Bancroft presided over an interesting meeting. Among the agenda items was a reading by Mrs. Davenport of an account of the death of George Washington, from the Ulster County Gazette, December 1799. Mrs. Davenport’s daughter Eleanor played a musical selection on the zither, after which delicious refreshments were served, including the Washington cake, a Mount Vernon recipe.
On April 26, 1906, the chapter was scheduled to elect new officers; however, that day the city lay smoldering in ruins after the earthquake and fire. Most of the chapter’s records and papers were burned, presumably including the original charter. Great efforts were undertaken to contact members and assemble a meeting for the following October 22. California Chapter, NSDAR, actively participated in fundraising for the building of Memorial Continental Hall in Washington, D.C., sending $250 in 1911. The chapter also awarded prizes to local students for the best composition on the American Revolution.
By 1915 California Chapter, NSDAR, had 45 members, raised $100 towards the Pioneer Mothers’ Monument, and was sending reading material to soldiers in German Samoa. Members contributed generously to the bronze statue of George Washington, presented to the people of San Francisco; chapter member Mrs. Phoebe Hearst personally gave $250. In 1924, the chapter joined the other San Francisco chapters in placing a bronze plaque set in a stone at the base of the flagpole in Portsmouth Square, commemorating the first raising of the American Flag in San Francisco by Captain John Montgomery of the USS Portsmouth in 1846. In 1926, members located and marked 24 graves of Revolutionary War soldiers. In 1928, they marked the four corners of the original Presidio Building with bronze tablets. The graves of two Real Granddaughters were marked in 1931, that of Mrs. Sarah Hubbard, our first State Regent, and Mrs. Louise Bee, an early California Chapter, NSDAR, member. A tree which stands majestically today in Golden Gate Park was planted in 1935 by the chapter in honor of President Herbert Hoover for his work in conservation. The plaque is still present at the base of this tree. In 1931, two cuttings from the original George Washington elm were planted in the court at Grace Cathedral. In later years they had to be relocated for construction, and their descendant trees were planted elsewhere on the cathedral grounds. In 1956, the oldest building at the Presidio, the Old Station Hospital, was marked with a plaque by the chapter. The building was in use from 1857 until the construction of Letterman Hospital in 1969. So many accomplishments and community contributions cannot be included here due to space; even a brief look back at these remarkable women inspire us for the future.
La Puerta de Oro Chapter, NSDAR, was organized in 1896, California’s third DAR chapter.
