Chapter History
On January 21, 2021, the Hollywood Chapter, NSDAR, celebrated its 110th birthday. What began as a dream in 1909 by a few women materialized in January 1911. From this young group with only 29 charter members, a vibrant, thriving chapter full of incredible women has grown.
The Hollywood Chapter has a long history of combining philanthropy with social events. For decades, there were annual luncheons and card party fundraisers. The most interesting event was in late 1917, when the chapter hosted a county fair-themed party at a local mansion. All monies raised were for World War I relief efforts. There was a mock beauty contest with a king and a prince dressed in regal attire. The king was to choose a bride for his son, the prince. The 12 beauties were starlets on loan from Universal.
In addition to the county fair, the Hollywood Chapter adopted two French orphans and contributed to the rebuilding of the French village of Tilloloy. World War II saw massive participation from chapter members. Notably, one member, Ms. Dale Heller, was in active service in Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). Between December 7, 1941, and February 1945, chapter members purchased bonds. All types of war relief efforts were undertaken by members, including sewing, preparing Victory Kits for soldiers in the South Pacific, and the Juniors knitting afghans for the wounded at a hospital. The number of hours spent on Red Cross work exceeded 12,000.
Chapter members were also exceptionally active at the Hollywood United Service Organization (USO) and the Hollywood Canteen. Members volunteered over 2,000 hours at the USO, hosting dances, reading palms, and baking goodies.
Education has long been a focus of the Hollywood Chapter. From its inception, the chapter has donated money to schools, adopted students, awarded scholarships, organized classes for immigrants, and provided support to schools in any way possible. Since the 1980s, the chapter has awarded donations to schools and scholarships.
The Hollywood Chapter initiated a program called the “Constitution Awards Program.” There was such far-reaching acceptance that it became a California State Society (CSSDAR) project in 1973-74 and was later adopted by NSDAR. The program began as a Constitution Essay Contest among junior high school students, as a way to reward their excellence in studying the U.S. Constitution.
The Hollywood Chapter adopted a green approach decades before it became a trend. The 1920s saw the chapter plant a redwood tree at Fairfax High School and fund the patio garden at the Hollywood branch library. As well, during the 1920s, 7,300 trees were planted as part of the National Tree Planting Campaign, the largest number planted by any one chapter.
In 1928, a Hollywood Chapter member conceived the idea for a memorial avenue of trees, honoring 31 presidents, on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus. The chapter gave the first tree. The planting ceremony took place on March 3, 1928, before the actual dedication of the University in 1930. In the early 1960s, the chapter again planted a row of trees at UCLA.
In June 1974, at the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) studios, the chapter presented Lawrence Welk with the DAR Medal of Honor in grateful recognition of his devoted leadership in the field of American music, his dependable trustworthiness, life-long service, and dedicated patriotism to the country.
In 2006, the Hollywood Chapter finally marked the grave of its most famous member with a DAR insignia. That member was Ginger Rogers. A wonderful ceremony and reception followed. The chapter purchased a Liberty cart and donated it to the Veterans Administration to assist veterans with mobility. In 2009, the chapter purchased 1,800 dictionaries and distributed them to all third graders in twenty-one schools in the Hollywood area. In 2014, the chapter focused on supporting the local West Los Angeles VA Hospital by providing items to new mothers. Since then, the chapter has spent December supporting veterans through hospital visits, card-making, and stocking-stuffing. For over 10 years, the chapter has provided thousands of dollars in scholarships to students through a chapter initiative, the Lillian C. Wright Scholarship, and the American History Essay contests.
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapter continued its community work. For the annual DAR Day of Service, members donated items to be assembled into over 200 hygiene, craft, and back-to-school kits, as well as fun packs for the West Los Angeles VA, Sisters on the Street, Aviva Family and Children Services, Union Rescue Mission, My Friend’s Place, and PATH. The Hollywood Chapter continues its commitment to DAR schools, American Indian schools, and local students through our chapter scholarships and essay contests. The chapter has continued to support the West Los Angeles VA with donations of used magazines, apples, letters of encouragement, birthday cards, and various pantry items.