About Our Chapter

Fort Payne Chapter, NSDAR, is a service organization that works through our committees to support historic preservation, education, and patriotism. DAR was founded in 1890, and these three areas of focus were established at the first meeting over 130 years ago. Fort Payne Chapter, NSDAR, is a non-profit, non-political organization that supports this mission through service projects, assisting veterans, providing scholarships to high school seniors, submitting various grants, and celebrating those in our community with awards such as The Outstanding Teacher in American History and DAR Community Service Award. Please join us as we continue this mission!

Wreaths Across America

2022-2023 Events

Date Event
September 17-23 Constitution Week
September History and preservation of Greene Barn & Oak Cottage
Classroom supplies & nourishment for underprivileged children
  DAR Service for Veterans
NWVU Woman's Stand Down
October Pets for Vets
Community Event
  Operation Support Our Troops
Stockings for the Troops
  Historic Preservation
Clean headstones at Lisle Cemetery
  Conservation
Clean headstones at Lisle Cemetery
November 11 Veterans Day
November History of the Flag
  DAR Project Patriot
Halloween Candy donations to troops
December 14 Wreaths Across America Day
December Historic Preservation
Broken Chains: Aiding Freedom's Journey
  DAR Project Patriot
Cookies for 10 local fire stationsCookies for 10 local fire stations
  Wreath Laying
Patriot John Dudley's grave, Veterans Valor statue
Date Event
February Historic Preservation
Mission and Vision of the African American Genealogical Historical Society (AAGHS) and the African American involvement in Colonial History
March DAR Project Patriot
Donation to Camp Atterbury USO
April Awards Ceremony
  School Library Month/National Library Week
Children's books for Migrant Children
May 2 National Day of Prayer
May 6-10 National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 27 Memorial Day
May Community Classroom
Teacher Appreciation for Outstanding Teacher of American History
June 14 Flag Day
June Service Project
Support Safety Town for National Safety Month

Our Chapter History

ORIGIN OF THE CHAPTER
During the Black Hawk War, the settlers of Naper Settlement had to flee to Fort Dearborn. On their return, they asked for assistance to build a fort for shelter and defense during the Black Hawk Wars. In the middle of June 1832, a company of about fifty men under Captain Morgan L. Payne was dispatched from Ottawa, Illinois. Captain Payne was so popular with his men that they decided to name the fort in his honor. Fort Payne was located on the present-day grounds of Merner Fieldhouse of North Central College in Naperville.

HISTORY OF THE CHAPTER
In January 1927, a move to start a Hobson Mill Preservation Project developed into an interest to have a DAR society in Naperville. On February 13, 1928, the Fort Payne Chapter, NSDAR, was organized with twelve members. The National Society then confirmed the charter on May 19, 1928.

Fort Dearborn
Operation HerStory
Chapter Members
Chapter Members
Chapter Members
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About Our National Society

Mission

To promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism.

Founders

Ellen Hardin Walworth

Ellen Hardin Walworth

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Eugenia Washington

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Mary Desha

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Mary Smith Lockwood

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has active chapters in every state in addition to overseas locations including Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Canada, England, France, Germany, Guam, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Over one million members of DAR proudly serve and contribute millions of hours of volunteer work worldwide each year. Every Daughter has her reasons for joining which may include genealogy, honoring her ancestors, serving veterans, educating children, helping other women, making friends, or preserving history. Please join us as we continue to grow and prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026!

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