Chapter History
Western Shores Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), is the oldest continuously operating chapter in Long Beach, California.
Its founding Regent was Mrs. Clara M. Fackler. Upon moving to Long Beach, Mrs. Fackler began contacting women in the community who were both patriotic and interested in genealogy, and encouraged them to write down their family history. She met them at the local library to do their research. Many discovered that they had patriots who fought in the American Revolution, which spurred their interest in joining the NSDAR. Mrs. Fackler helped to determine their eligibility to join, and helped them complete their applications.
The first meeting was held on May 6, 1924, at the Hob Nob Tea Room, located at 1220 Ocean Boulevard near the corner of Sixth Place in Long Beach, California, with 56 charter members, 37 of whom had not previously belonged to the NSDAR. Our charter was officially recognized by the NSDAR on August 24, 1924. By 1927, the chapter had grown to 96 members.
The members chose the name "Western Shores" because of the chapter's location on the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean.
The following is an excerpt taken from an historical accounting of Western Shores by Mrs. G. Curtis Brigham (year unknown):
Mrs. William S. Fackler [Clara M.], a brilliant, capable, and lovable woman, was the organizing regent. She was contacted by women of Long Beach who were eligible and helped them fill out their paperwork. Mrs. Fackler was a long-time subscriber to the "Boston Transcript," a newspaper with a biweekly column discussing genealogical data. Many of these ladies used that column to fill out their family lines.
After much work and preliminary meetings held in houses and in the art room of the library, May 6, 1924, was set as the organization meeting at the Hob Nob Tea Room; the name Western Shores Chapter DAR was chosen at that time. It was a gala meeting. The color scheme for the luncheon was red, white, and blue. Immense bouquets of red and white roses and blue cornflowers centered each table; appropriate was the last course of Martha Washington pie, and red, white, and blue mints, the latter the gift of Mrs. John G. Lewis.
The luncheon was attended by sixty women, including honored guests Lynn B. Stookey [Margaret Powell Stookey], Past State Regent, and Mrs. Jesse Shreve [Edith Jenkins Shreve], State Vice Regent. Mrs. Almira [Osborn] Stevenson was presented as first member and Mrs. Arthur Linn [Etta Brown Linn] as the first and only real granddaughter of a Revolutionary War soldier. Mrs. A. H. Parmley [Luellen May Parmley], regent of Gaviota Chapter, was presented and brought greetings from the first chapter to be formed in Long Beach.
Mrs. Jesse Shreve, State Vice Regent, administered the oath of office to Mrs. William Fackler, after warm congratulations were extended to Mrs. Fackler in her success in enrolling so many members in a new chapter.
There were 56 organizing members, 37 of whom never before belonged to the DAR. The first officers of Western Shores were:
- Mrs. William S. Fackler, Regent
- Mrs. John G. Lewis, First Vice Regent
- Dr. Lizabeth de Laitre George, Chaplain
- Mrs. Edmund J. Callaway, Recording Secretary
- Mrs. L. H. Frizzell, Corresponding Secretary
- Mrs. William Gantz, Treasurer
A guest book, the gift of William S. Fackler, with a beautiful leather cover done by Mrs. Genevieve B. Clark, was presented to the chapter.
The meeting closed with songs by little Janet Walker, "The Sugar Plum Tree" and "When Grandma Was a Girl."
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National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution