Our History

In the spring of 1891, members of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania met and formed what became the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. Within three years, all of the member societies in the Colonial states and the District of Columbia had been incorporated. On October 8, 1896 the Minnesota Society was admitted. From the original 14 members, the Minnesota Society has grown into a group of about 100 Dames who support high school students studying history through History Day, International Student Scholarships at the University of Minnesota, veterans, and the Alexander Ramsey House in St. Paul, MN. Members can find publications about our history here.

The Alexander Ramsey House was owned by Colonial Dame Anna Ramsey Furness, granddaughter of Minnesota’s first Territorial Governor and the second Governor of the State of Minnesota. In her will, she left the house to the Minnesota Historical Society with the provision that the NSCDA-MN be involved in its governance.