The National Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor is a lineage society. Founded in 1921, the society accepts women who are lineal descendants from a commissioned officer of one or more early American wars between the 1607 and 1865. Membership is also extended to female descendants of Colonial governors who served between 1607 and 1775.

History

The National Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor was founded by

Mary Florence Taney Mary Florence Taney (May 15, 1856 – October 9, 1936) was an American socialite, clubwoman, suffragist, civic leader, and writer. She was the first woman to serve as a Notary Public in Kentucky. She wrote the lyrics for the ''Kentucky State Song' ...

, and thirteen associate members, in

Covington, Kentucky Covington is a list of cities in Kentucky, home rule-class city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Ohio River, Ohio and Licking River (Kentucky), Licking rivers, across from Cincinnati to the north ...

, on May 15, 1921. Membership is extended to women, at least sixteen years old, who are lineal descendants from a commissioned officer of one or more early American wars between the 1607 and 1865, including the Colonial Wars, the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

, the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

, the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

, and the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. Membership is also extended to women who descend from a Colonial Governor who served in the

Colonial Period Colonial period (a period in a country's history where it was subject to management by a colonial power) may refer to: Continents *European colonization of the Americas *Colonisation of Africa * Western imperialism in Asia Countries * Coloni ...

of 1607 to 1775. The society was incorporated in Ohio in 1928. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the national society was inactive. Following the war, it was reorganized by Mrs. Kirby-Smith Anderson on May 15, 1946 in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

. In May 1965, the Virginia Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor held a meeting, in honor of Mary Florence Taney, at the home of Mrs. Samuel Thorne Patterson in

Danville, Virginia Danville is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The city is located in the Southside (Virginia), Southside Virginia region and on the fall line of the Dan River ( ...

. In May 1982, the Virginia State Society held a founders day celebration in

Altavista, Virginia Altavista is an incorporated town in Campbell County, Virginia, United States. The town is in the Lynchburg Metropolitan Area, and its population was 3,378 at the 2020 census. It was founded in 1907 by John Edward Lane and Henry L. Lane of the ...

, cohosted by Virginia State President Mrs. Paul E. Cocke and Mrs. Robert B. Carpenter, Jr. In 1985, it was registered as a nonprofit organization.

Notable members

Linda Gist Calvin Linda Gist Calvin is an American businesswoman who served as the 41st president general of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Early life and education Calvin was born and raised in Visalia, California. She attended Colle ...

, 41st president general of the

Daughters of the American Revolution The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (often abbreviated as DAR or NSDAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a patriot of the American Revolutionary War. A non-p ...

, clubwoman, writer, and socialite

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor History of women in the United States Lineage societies Nonpartisan organizations in the United States Organizations established in 1921 Women's clubs in the United States Women's organizations based in the United States