Fast Facts About Our History
Our Founding
The first meeting of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Minnesota was at the home of Daniel and Helen Noyes at 366 Summit Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1896. Pictured above. Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society.
National Society
On October 8, 1896 the Minnesota Society was admitted to the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America with 14 charter members. According to National Society records, this made us the tenth non-Colonial state to be admitted.
Early Years
Dames began writing papers on Colonial history and landmarks, settling on Minnesota history--relations with the Dakota nation, the importance of Fort Snelling and the Mississippi River, fur traders, explorers and early settlers.
Personal Stories
A meeting was held at the Sibley House in 1914. Mrs. Mary Schwandt Schmidt, who survived the U.S. - Dakota War iof1862, shared her memories of being a child captive living in a tepee with an adored Indian foster mother. This was so interesting to the Dames that a repeat performance was held with a court stenographer taking down the story verbatim. Copies were sent to the Minnesota Historical Society and the NSCDA National Patriotic Service Committee.
Giving Back
During these years members contributed generously to the projects of the National Society, including the War Memorial in Arlington Cemetery for all members of the Armed Forces, the restoration of the church at Jamestown, the George Washington memorial, Sulgrave Manor and “Bellevue”, now called Dumbarton House, as well as Gunston Hall. Heading the list of gifts was money sent to the hospital ship “Solace” in 1898.
The Great War
The Minnesota Society supported the American Hospital in Paris, France, American ambulances, Liberty Loans and comfort bags. It contributed $1,000 to purchase yarn for the knitters, and gave to the Red Cross and War Relief funds. Over half our membership was involved with Red Cross work. One quarter were directors of departments or chairmen of units. Thirty-one Dames gave 750 hours a week to their services.
Local Support
In 1923 we placed a tablet at Itasca State Park to commemorate Henry Schoolcraft’s trip to the headwaters of the Mississippi. In 1927 we erected a bronze tablet in Governor Alexander Ramsey’s memory at the State Capitol. In the 1930s the Society published two books: Five Fur Traders of the Northwest and Father Louis Hennepin’s Description of Louisiana, translated from the French by Minnesota Dame Marion Cross.
World War II
War work began again in 1942. We furnished rooms for the Induction Center at Fort Snelling and made generous donations to War Relief Funds and the U.S.O. in Ketchikan, Alaska. The Minnesota Dames worked to support all branches of the Red Cross, including the Grey Ladies, the motor corps, by preparing surgical dressings, acting as nurses’ aides, blood donors, knitters and sewers.
Scholarships
A major undertaking, begun in 1953, was the annual giving of scholarship aid to foreign graduate students at the University of Minnesota. This scholarship continues to this day. It supports a program for foreign students to promote international exchanges and person-to-person diplomacy. The International Student Scholarship Program at the University of Minnesota manages the program, which has helped over 800 students.
Alexander Ramsey House
Upon the death in 1964 of Minnesota Dame Anna Ramsey Furness, the Alexander Ramsey House and all its furnishings were given to the Minnesota Historical Society with the understanding that the Minnesota Dames be allowed to have three of its members sit on the Board of Governors of the Ramsey House . We now had a museum property without the responsibility of ownership! Dames continue to participate in the Ramsey House Board of Governors to this day.
Bicentennial
During the nation’s Bicentennial, 1974-1976, the Minnesota Society participated in two efforts sponsored by the National Society. They wrote biographical sketches about women famous in each state’s history; and conducted a pre-1914 portrait survey to compile a record of portraits by famous artists held in private collections in each state. The biographical sketches were added to the archives of the Library of Congress, and the portrait records were submitted to the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Father Hennepin
To commemorate Father Hennepin’s visit three hundred years ago to the falls he named “Saint Anthony,” the site of the future Minneapolis, in 1980 the Minnesota Society published a second edition in paperback of Father Louis Hennepin’s Description of Louisiana, translated by Minnesota Dame Marion Cross in the 1930s. This edition was distributed to schools and libraries across Minnesota.
Endowments
Minnesota Dame Marion Cross ensured the future of the Dames’ International Student Scholarship at the University of Minnesota by creating an endowment in her will. Proceeds are matched by the State of Minnesota. In 2013, Minnesota Dames members contributed significantly as individuals to help establish the “Alexander Ramsey House Endowment Fund,” providing ongoing support for the property.
History Day Support
In 2014, we began to participate in History Day through the Minnesota Historical Society and have sponsored prizes for essay entries in the area of American Colonial History. Dames also serve as judges for the prizes. Winners have been invited to present their essays at our member meetings.
Regional Conferences
The Minnesota Society has hosted three regional conferences for the NSCDA, in 1976, 1994, and 2011. In 2011, we were a sponsor for the outstanding “Discover the Real George Washington” exhibit at the Minnesota History Center as well as the PBS production “Dolly Madison” produced by Twin Cities Public Television in St. Paul.
By the Numbers
We have compiled the lineage papers of 650 current and former members of the Minnesota Society. Currently we are comprised of just over 100 members who participate in activities and events throughout the year. Typically we have spring and fall events, an annual meeting, a year-end celebration, and activities with the Veterans Home, Minnesota History Day and with scholarship winners throughout the year.
Veterans Services
The Patriotic Service Committee of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Minnesota has a strong relationship with the Minnesota Veterans Home to support their needs list. A popular item has been providing newspaper subscriptions for residents.
Modern Minnesotans
The Minnesota Society’s first website and a private Facebook group were established in 2016. During the pandemic that began in 2020, board meetings were held via electronic conferencing such as Zoom. Many Minnesota Dames participated in the National Society’s first virtual Biennial conference in October 2020, and our first Minnesota virtual event for our entire membership was held in December 2020, featuring a presentation by the Plimoth Patuxent Museum on the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s arrival.
