The Colonial Dames of America (CDA) is an American organization composed of women who are descended from an ancestor who lived in British America from 1607 to 1775, and was of service to the colonies by either holding public office, being in the military, or serving the Colonies in some other "eligible" way. The CDA is listed as an approved lineage society with the

Hereditary Society Community of the United States of America The Hereditary Society Community of the United States of America ("HSC") is a non-profit organization, founded in 2002, which conveys the public interface for over 300 lineage societies. HSC's primary mission is to facilitate and increase the commu ...

. The National Headquarters is at Mount Vernon Hotel Museum in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, which was purchased by the CDA in 1924.

History

The organization was founded in 1890, shortly before the founding of two similar societies,

The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America is an American organization composed of women who are descended from an ancestor "who came to reside in an American Colony before 1776, and whose services were rendered during the Colonial Pe ...

and the

Daughters of the American Revolution The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. A non-profit group, they promote ...

Notable members

* Lillie Stella Acer Ballagh, founder of Matinee Musical Club, Los Angeles * Florence Anderson Clark (1835–1918), author, newspaper editor, librarian, university dean * Cynthia Beverley Tucker Washington Coleman (1832–1908), writer and preservationist in Williamsburg, Virginia. * Elizabeth Jarvis Colt, businesswoman and philanthropist; founder of the Connecticut chapter of CDA *

Laura Dayton Fessenden Laura Dayton Fessenden (, Dayton; December 29, 1852 – May 11, 1924) was an American author of romances and other books between 1878 and 1923. She was a contributor to magazines and a writer of songs. She was the founder of the Highland Park Woma ...

(1852-1924), author *

Sallie Foster Harshbarger Sallie Foster Harshbarger (February 23, 1874 – April 17, 1958) was California State Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Early life Sallie Foster was born in Reno, Nevada, on February 23, 1874, the daughter of Asa Eastman Foster ...

, active in civic and fraternal work *

Mary Hilliard Hinton Mary Hilliard Hinton (June 7, 1869 – January 6, 1961) was an American painter, historian, clubwoman, and anti-suffragist. She was a leader in North Carolina's Anti-suffragism, anti-suffragist movement and an outspoken white supremacist, co-fou ...

, historian, painter, anti-suffragist, and white supremacist *

Alice Curtice Moyer Alice Curtice Moyer Wing (1866 - August 16, 1937) was an American writer and suffragist. Her book ''A Romance of the Road'' is a manifesto of the Women's suffrage, suffragist argument. Biography Alice Curtice Moyer Wing was born in 1866 in Du Qu ...

Edith Allen Phelps Edith Allen Phelps (February 10, 1866 - July 2, 1945) was the first professional in the Library Science field in the Oklahoma City system. She served twice as president of the Oklahoma Library Association. Early life Edith Allen Phelps was born i ...

, twice president of the Oklahoma Library Association, the first professional in the Library Science field in the Oklahoma City system * Adelaide Hamilton (1830-1915), last surviving granddaughter of Alexander Hamilton. She joined the organisation when it was first launched. *

Florence Warfield Sillers Florence Carson Warfield Sillers (September 25, 1869 – April 5, 1958) was an American socialite and historian. A member of an influential American family with colonial ties, Sillers was a prominent figure of Mississippi society and was a foundi ...

, historian and socialite *

Fay Webb-Gardner Fay Lamar Webb-Gardner (September 7, 1885 – January 16, 1969) was an American political hostess, businesswoman, and philanthropist. As the wife of Oliver Max Gardner, she served as the Second Lady of North Carolina from 1917 to 1923 and as Fir ...

, First Lady of North Carolina *

Lynn Forney Young Lynn Forney Young is an American civil leader and clubwoman. She was the 43rd President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. Personal life A native of Texas, Young lives ...

, lineage society leader

References

External links

Official website

Mount Vernon Hotel MuseumThe Hereditary Society Community of the United States of America
Lineage societies Organizations established in 1890 Women's clubs in the United States {{US-org-stub