Rochelle Chapter
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
—Rochelle, Illinois—
Thanks to the generous support of the Rochelle community, the Rochelle Chapter was able to place wreaths on all 179 known veterans graves
at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery as well as dedicated wreaths at Trinity and Lawnridge cemeteries as part of the nationwide "Wreaths across America" project.
The Rochelle Chapter, NSDAR, is named after the city in which it was founded
and also includes the Rochelle area towns of Amboy, Ashton, Chana, Creston, Davis Junction, Dixon, Franklin Grove, Kings, Malta, Monroe Center, Oregon, PawPaw, Steward
and Stillman Valley.
Chapter History
The Rochelle Chapter, NSDAR, was organized May 19, 1900, just 10 years after the organization of our National Society in 1890. The Rochelle Chapter, NSDAR, was organized by Mrs. Frank (Josephine Waite) Barker. Mrs. Barker had been interested in the progress of the National Society and through friends had kept in touch with the work being done in Illinois.
The State Regent at the time, Mrs. Waite Talcott of Rockford, Illinois, was invited to Rochelle, which resulted in the organization of the Rochelle Chapter, NSDAR. Mrs. Barker was fittingly appointed by the State Regent to be the first Regent of the Rochelle Chapter, NSDAR. The charter membership of the chapter was twenty-two, being one the largest initial memberships in the State. An interesting fact is that the chief topic of that first meeting in 1900, was the possibility of raising funds to help build Memorial Continental Hall, our national headquarters located in Washington D.C.
In 1992, the chapter placed a DAR marker at the gravesite of Mrs. Barker in Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle.
The home of Josephine Waite Barker, 1906.
Chapter Officers
| Regent | Sarah Flanagan |
| Vice Regent | Laurie Perry |
| Chaplain | Bea Chaplin |
| Recording Secretary | Yvette DeWispelaere |
| Corresponding Secretary | Vanessa Cultra |
| Treasurer | Jean Kroupa |
| Registrar | Rena Burgess |
| Historian | Sherrie Taylor |
| Librarian | Rebecca Danner |
| Parliamentarian | Lydia Roberts |
Chapter members were invited to tour Josephine Barker's newly restored home by the owners.
Calendar
Chapter meetings are held from September through May. Our programs focus on historical topics, genealogy, and volunteer efforts. We welcome visitors and prospective members. The program year 2025-26 will focus onthe 250th birthday of our nation. Contact us with any DAR or chapter questions.
| September 2025 | “We the People” |
| September 17-23, 2025 | Constitution Week |
| October 2025 | “ Textiles, Homespun, and the American Revolution” |
| October 11, 2025 | NSDAR National Day of Service |
| October 12, 2025 | NSDAR National Day of Prayer |
| November 2023 | “Revolutionary War Era Cuisine” |
| December 2025 | “Christmas Music of our Revolutionary Ancestors” |
| December 13, 2025 | “Wreaths Across America, Daysville Cemetery, Oregon IL; Woodlawn Cemetery, Creston IL, Palmyra Cemetery, Dixon IL” |
| December 14, 2025 | “Wreaths Across America, Rochelle IL Area Cemeteries” |
| February 2026 | “America 250! – Forward from Here” |
| March 2026 | “Women’s Roles & Circumstances during the Revolutionary War Era” |
| April 2026 | “Female American Indian Patriots” |
| May 2026 | “Seven Deadly Sins” |
| June 2026 | Chapter Annual Meeting |
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution | Illinois State Organization DAR
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Website last updated July 18, 2025
Photos courtesy of Rochelle Chapter, NSDAR
