Westport Chapter National Society Daughers of the American Revolution, Kansas City, Missouri

Westport Daughter Helen Lea takes FIRST PLACE in National Contest

Chapter member Helen Lea is shown in her studio with her award winning painting titled “Mirror in the Garden”.

Each year, the American Heritage Committee sponsors a contest among National Society Daughters of the American Revolution members, with this past year’s theme being “Preserving the Past through Family Traditions”. Helen’s painting took first place in the state of Missouri.

This past July at the Continental Congress in Washington, DC, Helen was awarded first place nationally in the Art and Sculpture-Acrylic category. Her work can be seen locally at the Eva Reynolds Fine Arts Gallery in Overland Park and on her website helenleagallery.com.

Chapter History:

Westport, the third chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to be established in Kansas City, Missouri, was organized on February 2, 1937, and named to commemorate the town of Westport, platted one hundred years earlier by John C. McCoy. The Kansas City Pioneer Square monument in Westport, shown above, features Pony Express founder Alexander Majors, Westport/Kansas City founder John Calvin McCoy, and Mountaineer Jim Bridger, who owned Chouteau's Store next to Kelly's

The incentive for the chapter's founding was the then President General Becker's administration's emphasis on expanding the membership of younger women. Mrs. Hale Houts, herself a charter member of the first chapter to be organized nationally for this age group and an expert in genealogy, was the sponsor, and Mrs. Edward Brous, the organizing regent. Charter members number twenty-five.

Today the membership is around 100, with all age groups represented. We meet the third Monday of each month in the homes of our members with interesting historical, educational, and patriotic programs following our luncheon and before a short business meeting.  Our members are actively involved in community affairs, as well as their duties for state and national DAR activities.

Current chapter regent Mary Lynn Tolle, pictured right, has previously served as chapter regent three times, and served as the state regent of Missouri for the 2006-2008 term. At the national level, she served as Vice President General (2008-2011), and currently serves as state chairman of the DAR's Historic Preservation committee.

If you are interested in learning more about the Westport Chapter, or visiting a chapter meeting, please contact Membership Chairman Cathy Hedlund for more information.