Mary Smith Lockwood (1831–1922) was one of the founders of 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 ...

Biography

On July 13, 1890, after the

Sons of the American Revolution The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American Congressional charter, congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky. A non-prof ...

refused to allow women to join their group, Lockwood published the story of patriot Hannah White Arnett in ''The Washington Post'', ending her piece with the question, "Where will the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution place Hannah Arnett?" On July 21 of that year, William O. McDowell, a great-grandson of Hannah White Arnett, published an article in ''The Washington Post'' offering to help form a society to be known as the

. The first meeting of the society was held August 9, 1890. The Daughters of the American Revolution was officially founded on October 11, 1890, at 2 p.m. at the Strathmore Arms, the home of Lockwood, who was one of its four co-founders.

members Registrar General Dr.

George Brown Goode George Brown Goode (February 13, 1851 – September 6, 1896), was an American ichthyologist and museum administrator. He graduated from Wesleyan University and studied at Harvard University. Early life and family George Brown Goode was born Febru ...

, Secretary General A. Howard Clark, William O. McDowell (SAR member #1), Wilson L. Gill (secretary at the inaugural meeting), and 18 other people met at the Strathmore Arms that day, but Lockwood, Eugenia Washington, Mary Desha, and

Ellen Hardin Walworth Ellen Hardin Walworth (October 20, 1832 – June 23, 1915) was an American author, lawyer, and activist who was a passionate advocate for the importance of studying history and historic preservation. Walworth was one of the founders of the Dau ...

are called co-founders since they held two to three meetings in August 1890. Lockwood was also the Daughters of the American Revolution's first historian, and served as editor of the Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine from 1894 to 1900. The Daughters of the American Revolution was inspired by her to resolve on October 18, 1890, to "provide a place for the collection of Historical relics which will accumulate…and for historical portraits, pictures, etc. This may first be in rooms, and later in the erection of a fire-proof building." Lockwood was a friend and advisor to women's rights activists

Susan B. Anthony Susan B. Anthony (born Susan Anthony; February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906) was an American social reformer and women's rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement. Born into a Quaker family committed to s ...

and

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Elizabeth Cady Stanton (November 12, 1815 – October 26, 1902) was an American writer and activist who was a leader of the women's rights movement in the U.S. during the mid- to late-19th century. She was the main force behind the 1848 Seneca ...

, and wrote in newspapers about women's rights. She wrote many books, the most notable being ''Historic Homes of Washington'' and ''Hand Book of Ceramic Art.'' She also promoted women's clubs and was the founder of the Travel Club and president of the

Woman's National Press Association Woman's National Press Association (W.N.P.A.) was an American professional association for women journalists. The constitution declared that the object of the association was to advance and encourage women in literary work, and to secure the benefi ...

, as well as Lady Manager at Large at the

World's Columbian Exposition The World's Columbian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World's Fair) was a world's fair held in Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordi ...

in Chicago in 1893. Founders of the Daughters of the American Revolution cropped

Lockwood died in 1922, and was the last surviving founder of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as the only founder buried in Washington. Her work in founding the Daughters of the American Revolution is mentioned in ''Women and Patriotism in Jim Crow America'' (2005), by Francesca Morgan.

Legacy

On April 17, 1929, under the leadership of President General Grace L. H. Brosseau, the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a memorial to its four founders, including Lockwood. The memorial was sculpted by

Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (January 9, 1875 – April 18, 1942) was an American sculptor, art patron and collector, and founder in 1931 of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. She was a prominent social figure and hostess, ...

, who was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and is located at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. A memorial to Lockwood was dedicated in 1940 at the four corners in Smith Mills, New York, consisting of a large native boulder with a bronze tablet inset, stating, "Birthplace of Mary Smith Lockwood 1831-1922, Pen Founder of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Erected by Benjamin Prescott, Ellicott, Jamestown, Major Benjamin Bosworth and Patterson Chapters, 1940." (However, according to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Lockwood was actually born in Hanover, New York.) The Mary Smith Lockwood Founders Medal for Education is awarded by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

References

Works cited

External links

*
“Mary Smith Lockwood: Famous Woman of Hanover” by Marion Thomas
published May 28, 1964 {{DEFAULTSORT:Lockwood, Mary Smith 1831 births 1922 deaths American essayists Founders of lineage societies Daughters of the American Revolution people American women essayists