National Society
During the January session, A.D. 1892, the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations incorporated the National Society of Colonial Dames in Rhode Island. The Society was admitted on February 21, 1893 as a Colonial Society to the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America with 13 charter members. According to National Society records, Rhode Island was the seventh Colonial state to be admitted.
Early Years/War Relief/ Civic Engagement
April 5, 1898: NSCDA in RI were the founders of the RI Sanitary and Relief Association for “the purposes of sending comforts to our sick and wounded soldiers and sailors, (under the directions of the Surgeons General of our army and navy), and also, as far as possible, to assist deserving families of enlisted men, residents of Rhode Island.” (History and work of the Rhode Island Sanitary and Relief Association During the Spanish-American War – 1900)
1916: Nickerson House founded by Lyra Brown Nickerson was the first community health center in Providence
1918-1919: Sixty five members and their friends responded to the call for work for the soldiers, sailors, hospitals, the influenza epidemic and lately for refugee work. At the signing of the Armistice, surgical dressings were sent to Providence District Nursing Association; compresses to Providence Lying-in Hospital; 23 shirts to RI Hospital for influenza patients; 7 pairs socks, 1 pair wristlets, 6 sweaters to 377 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts. (NSCDA in RI Yearbook 1919)
October 8 1920: United League of Women Voters -RI
1921: From the 1922 NSCDA Yearbook: The Committee of Americanization reports the work of the members in the following ways:
- Mrs. Whitmarsh, Chairman of the Executive Board at federal Hill Settlement House
- Mrs Whitmarsh and Miss Anthony through United League of Women Voters of RI offered lectures and classes on Good Citizenship, government, food supply, child welfare and hygiene.
- Mrs. White – Chairman of the Eleanor Beeckman Fund – visited over twenty foreign families (Poles, Russians, Armenians, Italians, Portuguese and French)
- Mrs Baker , Chairman of the House Committee at the International Institute
- Miss Parsons – supported the Red Cross Canteen Service at the State Pier all winter – the first point of contact with the foreigners welcoming immigrants from Italy – Fabre Line – and guiding them to language Instruction at the International Institute.
- Mrs. Tillinghast supported the Armenian Worker- they are here in our midst as are the Russians, Poles, Austrians, Syrians, Italians, Portuguese and other nationalities in large numbers…
1920’s: Gray Ladies – American Red Cross Volunteers WWI and WWII – support purchase of motor ambulance and kitchen trailers.
( More to come )
