Chapter History and Activities

Bowling Green Chapter NSDAR was organized on February 22, 1912, on George Washington's 180th birthday at the Odd Fellows Hall in Bowling Green, Missouri. Eighty persons were in attendance at the organization including charter members, visitors from the Jonathan Pettibone Chapter and Pike County Chapter of Louisiana, Missouri, and friends. Newspaper reports said that the hall was profusely decorated with flags and the National colors were displayed in every conceivable way. The whole scheme was expressive of sentiment and patriotism.

Throughout its history, the Bowling Green Chapter has been active in our community promoting the DAR goals of patriotism, education, and historic preservation.

• One of its very first projects was to place a sanitary drinking fountain in the public school building.
• Markers were placed on the graves of two Revolutionary War soldiers.
• A stone entrance to the city cemetery was built along with memorial gates at the entrance.
• Throughout the years, contributions have been made to National and State projects including a liberal contribution towards defraying debt on Continental Hall in Washington, D.C.
• A past chapter regent copied and published 637 early marriage records of Pike County, Missouri.
• Sixty of the earliest inscriptions in the city cemetery were collected and published by chapter members.
• War relief pantries were held and war bonds were purchased during World War I.
• The chapter tacked 27 pounds of rags for historic Arrow Rock Tavern, then the MSSDAR State Headquarters in Arrow Rock, Missouri.
• DAR markers have been placed on the graves of local members.
• The chapter gives American history awards and DAR Good Citizen awards in the area schools.
• The chapter gives flags when requested to scout troops.
• Some members serve as docents at historic Honey Shuck, the restored home of James Beauchamp “Champ” Clark (1850-1921) of Bowling Green. Champ Clark was in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1892-1894, 1896-1920 and served as Speaker of the House from 1911-1919. His home is on the National Historic Register. The chapter donated a Champ Clark spoon to the DAR Continental Hall Missouri Room.
• The chapter supports patriotic holidays in the community.

In 2007 the Bowling Green Chapter NSDAR celebrated its 95th Anniversary. We are proud of our long history of promoting the DAR ideals of patriotism, education, and historical preservation and enjoy the friendships we have made as members of the Daughters of the American Revolution.