Organized by Miss Mary
Eleanor Brackenridge
December 11, 1902
The Founders of San Antonio de Bexar Chapter NSDAR met
at the Woman’s Club on February 3, 1902 and selected the chapter name in
honor of their historical city and county. Several months later on
November 22, 1902, charter #305 was issued to our chapter by the National
Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
San Antonio de Bexar was
originally organized on July 4th, 1891, at the Menger
Hotel with Mrs. James Henry French serving as the appointed Chapter
Regent. When it was learned that the National Society would accept lineage only
through descent from the "mother of the patriot" Mrs. French withdrew her
membership. However, when the National Society changed the requirements to only
lineal descent, Mrs. French and ten other ladies returned when Miss Eleanor
Brackenridge reorganized a chapter December 11th, 1902. The name of the chapter
was selected at a meeting held in February 1902 and charter #305 was issued on
November 22nd, 1902, to the San Antonio de Bexar Chapter. In March 1905 Mrs.
French presented to Miss Brackenridge, Regent, a sterling silver gavel made by
Tiffany on which are engraved the names of the charter members
of the
chapter.
San Antonio de Bexar Chapter is the oldest and largest
chapter in San Antonio. The membership has grown steadily from 75 members in
1912 to its highest membership of 435 in 1994. The chapter is proud to list a
current member as having served the National Society as a Registrar General, a
former member as having served as a Historian General and two members as having
served as Vice Presidents General. Three members have served as Texas State
Regents and nineteen members have held state offices. The chapter has two
current members who are Honorary State Regents for Life, and one member who
currently serves the Texas Society as State
Corresponding Secretary.
Since 1941 the chapter has awarded an annual scholarship to local high
school students to aid in furthering their education. During the "Bicentennial
of George Washington's Birthday" the chapter gave 140 live oak trees to
Randolph Air Force Base. The chapter has also placed markers on several
historical buildings. In 1907 the chapter's first yearbook was printed. Since
1911 an "In Memoriam" page has been added to the yearbook to honor all
deceased members of the chapter.
Under the auspices of the San Antonio
de Bexar Chapter a flourishing Society of Children of the American Revolution
was organized in November 1911 as the Lieutenant Colonel Richard Lott C.A.R.
In 1927 the C.A.R.
 Society divided and the Society was
issued to San Antonio de Bexar C.A.R.
The chapter is proud to be a
part of the San Antonio Area Regents Council along with eleven other area
chapters that work together to promote DAR in the community.