In early 1938, it was
decided that the Pilgrim Chapter in Iowa
City had grown too big to hold meetings in
people's homes, therefore prompting the
organization of a new chapter. In October
1938, Mrs. W.F. (Bertha) Boiler was
appointed to be the organizing regent and
Mrs. Sara Paine Hoffman to be the organizing
genealogist. The following February, the
organizing of a new chapter began. By July,
the new chapter had thirty-eight
applications and thirty-three approvals by
the National Board of Management, more than
enough potential members to be able to
charter this new chapter.
On November 19, 1939, the
new chapter was announced in the Press-Citizen:
To
be known as the Nathaniel Fellows Chapter
of the National Society Daughters of the
American Revolution, a new Chapter of the
DAR will be organized in Iowa City on
November 15, 1939, it is announced today.
Mrs. W.F. Boiler, nationally appointed
Organizing Regent, is organizing the new
chapter. The decision to honor Nathaniel
Fellows was reached when research, made by
Mrs. Sara Paine Hoffman, genealogist and
historian, revealed recently that Mr.
Fellows, one of the earliest of the local
pioneers, was the first American soldier
of the Revolutionary War, to die in Iowa.
Mr. Fellows died July 12, 1838. It was
also decided to pay homage to Mr. Fellows
since his fame remained unnoticed and
unhonored for more than a century,
according to Mrs. Hoffman.
On page four of the
November 28, 1939 Daily Iowan, a
report on the first meeting was found:
44
DESCENDANTS FROM CHAPTER ORGANIZED
The Nathaniel Fellows Chapter, a
society for daughters of the American
Revolution, was formally organized
Saturday when 44 descendants of soldiers
of the Revolution from Iowa City and
adjacent towns met for a luncheon at
Iowa Union.
The luncheon table was in the form of
letter “I” with an 18-inch candle
flanked by baskets of white
chrysanthemums and blue iris as the
centerpiece. Rare antiques and the
emblem of the society decorated the
room.
A light blue program book speckled with
white contained the order of the evening
for the organizational ceremony of the
Nathaniel Fellows Chapter, NSDAR held at
the Iowa Memorial Union in the University
Club Room, on November 25, 1939.
The first luncheon began
at 12:30 with Dr. Willard Lampe of the
School of Religion at the University of Iowa
giving grace. After lunch, the program
continued with Mrs. Boiler giving the call
to order.
Mrs. Narey explained to
the members why the chapter is named after
Nathaniel Fellows:
“The chapter honored the first
Revolutionary soldier to die and be
buried in Iowa. For almost a century
unnoted and neglected as a Patriot,
heretofore, the soldier provides the
name for the Nathaniel Fellows Chapter.”
She reminded new members:
“All members of the new chapter
are lineal descendants of ancestors who
assisted in the achievement of American
Independence, rendering either military or
civil service.”
The Honorary William
Morrison spoke on “My America ‘Tis of Thee,”
stressing the importance of the organization
influencing Americans' patriotism and the
nation's history.
Prior to this organizing
banquet and the installation of officers,
Mrs. Boiler had nominated Mrs. Grace
Coughland as first regent of Nathaniel
Fellows Chapter.
Currently the chapter has about fifty-five
members and continues the long history with
the Pilgrim Chapter by having a joint
meeting each year.
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