top of page
Our founder, Roberta Morgan Strother
Photo courtesy of Ted Delaney
"I simply could not say 'no...'"
​
This was Roberta Morgan Strother's reply in 1908 when approached by several ladies wishing to join the DAR in Lynchburg, Virginia, but were unable due to local membership limitations. At the time, Roberta Strother was a member of another area chapter whose membership was restricted to fifty members. On December fifth of that same year, the DAR National Executive Board appointed Roberta Strother as regent, with the ability to organize a new chapter named the "Lynchburg Chapter, NSDAR."
The first official meeting of the Lynchburg Chapter, NSDAR, took place in the parlor of YMCA, Lynchburg, Virginia, on January 14, 1909, with eighteen charter members establishing the fledgling chapter. In the first year, forty-five additional members were added to the chapter, including Marion Fontaine Cabell Henry Tyree, granddaughter of Patrick Henry. Early service projects for the chapter included educational support of child laborers, local research of early Lynchburg history, encouragement of U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence studies in local schools, and the advocacy of legislation for scientific education.
​
Our chapter has Roberta Strother to thank for her great dedication to our organization and our chapter. We couldn't have done it without her.
​
*Special thanks to Ted Delaney, Director of the Lynchburg Museum System and Chief Historical Officer for providing the information for this section*
​
bottom of page