Mary Tyler Chapter, NSDAR

On March 6, 1906, the National Board of the NSDAR confirmed Miss Jennie Mae Perry as the organizing regent for a new DAR chapter, to be known as the Tyler Chapter, located in Tyler, Texas. The chapter was actually founded on February 28, 1907, with twelve charter members, including Mrs. John Duncan as regent. The chapter’s first gifts were to Carnegie Library and consisted of eight lineage books valued at $1.00 each.

With permission of the National Board in 1909, the name of the chapter was changed to Mary Tyler Chapter, in honor of the mother of John Tyler the tenth president of the United States of America. John Tyler's son wrote the chapter thanking them for honoring Mary Tyler and put the group on his mailing list to receive the William and Mary Quarterly. Also in 1909, a medal was awarded to a student for the best essay on the patriotic subject of "The Founding of the American Navy." The medal selected cost $5.00. At the time, there was only $6.00 in the treasury!

Two brass tablets were placed by the Mary Tyler Chapter, on either side of the courthouse, one to honor John Tyler, and the other to honor Col. James Smith, for whom Smith County was named. Two memorial benches were also placed in the courthouse plaza by the Mary Tyler Chapter and a gift of historical pictures was made to the Tyler High School, one of Old Ironsides and one of George Washington. A flag was presented to the Carnegie Public Library and historical markers were placed on highways leading into Tyler. In 1927, in cooperation with the State Highway Department and Home Demonstration Agency of Smith County, crepe myrtle, fruit, dogwood, redbud, and holly trees were planted along the highways. At least 6,000 trees were planted as a result.

Other projects quickly followed. The chapter placed a sundial in Tyler’s Oakwood Cemetery, donated a bell for the Bell Tower at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and donated a sewing machine to teach the art of sewing to ladies in our community. Chapter members distributed flags and taught flag etiquette to children in the schools and participated in the marking of historical sites.

The Mary Tyler Chapter has also had down times. At one time, members discussed whether to continue having meetings since only five to seven members would attend. However, a vote on the resulting motion yielded not one dissenting vote. Our chapter strode valiantly on.

By 1936, the chapter was growing and many members were made state committee chairmen. Joy Grisham, of Tyler, designed historical plates depicting Tyler industry and beauty. These beautiful plates honored Texas governors Roberts, Hubbard, and Hogg, all from Tyler. One hundred of these plates were presented to the Governor’s Mansion in Austin. These plates were important fundraising items for many years.

Also in the 1940s, the Junior Membership Committee was established. Their favorite projects were assisting at the two Tyler Day Nurseries and USO work at Camp Fannin. The first chapter recording of a naturalization ceremony was in 1948. Chapter members served refreshments at the reception afterwards.

All through the many years, loyal members of Mary Tyler Chapter served the community in many ways focusing on schools and youth, essay contests, good citizens, naturalization ceremonies, service to veterans and Flag Day observances. The chapter was also instrumental in starting a genealogical library at the Carnegie Public Library. In the beginning it was manned by volunteers from Mary Tyler Chapter and was the foundation for the present Genealogy Department of the Tyler Public Library. This is truly a lasting gift.

(Taken from the notes of Betty Brown Smith, past regent of thes Mary Tyler Chapter, NSDAR).

MARY TYLER CHAPTER PAST REGENTS

Miss Jennie Mae Perry*+	1907	Mrs. I.C. Brown+	1957-59
Mrs. John M. Duncan+	1907-08	Mrs. Wiley Merrill, Jr.+	1959-61
Mrs. L.A. Starley+	1908-09	Mrs. Charles Holmsley*+	1961-63
Mrs. Hampson Gary+	1909-10	Mrs. J.W. McMillan+	1963-65
Mrs. Charles Bonner+	1910-12	Mrs. Sam Gibbons+	1965-66
Mrs. T.J. Wiley+	1912-16	Mrs. Lewen Thompson+	1966-67
Mrs. Charles Bonner+	1916-17	Mrs. Fred Love+	1967-69
Miss Jennie Mae Perry*+	1917-18	Mrs. Pat Nicklow Pace+	1969-71
Mrs. Harry McKay+	1918-19	Mrs. Gerald King, Jr.+	1971-73
Mrs. L.A. Starley+	1919-20	Mrs. J.G. Lester+	1973-75
Mrs. John W. Hughes+	1920-21	Mrs. Charles Holmsley*+	1975-77
Miss Jennie Mae Perry*+	1921-23	Mrs. Julian S. Smith*+	1977-79
Mrs. R.L. Caton+	1923-24	Mrs. H. Elbert Dew+	1979-81
Mrs. Lola Reese+	1924-27	Miss Mildred Littlejohn+	1981-83
Miss Jennie Mae Perry*+	1927-29	Mrs. Gaither McElroy*+	1983-85
Mrs. Harry McKay+	1929-32	Mrs. Gunby H. Andrews*	1985-87
Mrs. J.B. Mayfield+	1932-35	Mrs. Dickie W. Warren*	1987-89
Mrs. J.S. Gentry*+	1935-36	Mrs. Larry Joe Burks*	1989-91
Mrs. F.W. Fischer*+	1936-38	Mrs. Harley W. Errett*+	1991-93
Mrs. Earl Mayfield+	1938-39	Mrs. Harley W. Errett*+	1993-95
Mrs. A.M. Sutton+	1939-40	Mrs. Roger H. Mitchell+	1995-97
Mrs. F.W. Fischer*+	1940-42	Mrs. Harley W. Errett*+	1997-99
Mrs. Sam Harrison+	1943-44	Mrs. Albert L. Hagg*	1999-01
Mrs. Roy Golston+	1944-46	Mrs. Arthur F. Faulkner*	2001-03
Mrs. Howard Dodd+	1946-47	Mrs. W. Merrell Greenwell	2003-05
Mrs. John D. Glass+	1947-49	Mrs. Jack Leo Nolan*	2005-07
Miss Martha McClen-	1949-50	Mrs. Arthur F. Faulkner*	2007-09
Mrs. John T. Oden+	1950-52	Mrs. Stephen Lee*	2009-11
Mrs. John F. Phillips+	1952-53	Mrs. John Way*	2011-13
Mrs. Wilton Daniel*+	1953-55	Mrs. Earl R. Wait*	2013-15
Mrs. W.E. Nourse +	1955-57	Mrs. Dickie W. Warren*	2015-16

*Honorary
+Deceased

Mary Tyler Chapter

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

Tyler, Texas

HISTORY

MARY TYLER CHAPTER PAST REGENTS