JAMES BLAIR, CORSICANA, Organized December 24, 1926 By Mrs. Edward M. Polk
It was the day before Christmas in 1926 and twenty-four ladies had been invited to the home of Mrs. Edward M. Polk for the purpose of organizing a DAR chapter in Corsicana. Since all had complete family lines, the chapter was formed and named James Blair to honor an ancestor of the Organizing Regent, Rose Blair Polk. Of the twenty-four organizing members, only six are still active, but the chapter has grown and now has 181 members, with several papers pending.
Over the years many members of the James Blair Chapter have served as chairmen of both national and state committees and five have served as officers on the State Board: Mesdames Walter Fendley, State Registrar, 1940-43; J. Wesley edens, State Chaplain, 1946-49; Albert B. Horn, State Historian, 1949-52; Will M. Miller, State Treasurer, 1952-55; and H. Reynaud Strobe, Jr., State Corresponding Secretary, 1958-61, State Vice Regent, 1967-70- and State Curator, 1970-73.
James Blair has always sponsored and contributed to all committee activities, national, state and chapter. The Corsicana Daily Sun has co-operated to the extent that the Press Relations Committee work has been outstanding.
The genealogical collection gathered by James Blair Chapter members has been given a special room in the new library and two Recordak machines have been donated by the chapter, all for the use of those interested in research.
An active Junior committee was formed in 1942 and of this group, many have served in state and chapter. All patriotic days have been celebrated and a strong radio program has been given through the courtesy of Station KAND. At the close of each year, in May an annual White Breakfast is held, with outstanding speakers. Each member has the opportunity to invite guests and the chapter always extends invitations to the State Board of that year.
On the afternoon of October 12, 1941, it was the privilege of the James Blair Chapter to mark the grave in Chatfield, Texas, of a Real Daughter, Nancy Sturdvant Griggs. Her own life spanning the years 1798 to 1868, Nancy was the wife of Henry Griggs, and the daughter of John Sturdvant, a Revolutionary patriot, who was born in Virginia on December 15, 1757, and died in Hanover County, Virginia, on April 7, 1839.
Mrs. Polk concluded her term as first Regent of the chapter in 1928 and the following women have filled the office since that time: Mesdames J. Wesley Edens, Sr., 1928-30; Ballard George, 1930-23; Jack Hagar, 1932-34; J. M. Dyer, 1934; L. C. Polk, 1934-36; Wilbur A. Wright, 1936-38; Arthur Caldwell, 1938-40; J. S. Murchison, 1940-41; Max D. Almond, 1941-42; Albert B. Horn, 1942-44; W. M. Elliott, 1944-46; Roberta G. Steele, 1946-48; Will Miller, 1948-50; Roy C. Love, 1950-52; Reynaud Stroube, Jr., 1952-54; T. Walter Erwin, Jr., 1954-56; Balfour H. Clark, 1956-58; William B.. Robinson, 1958-60; Chaillos Cross, 1960-62; Robert Taylor, 1962-64; June P. Clark, 1964-66; John R. Crawford, 1966-68; Clinton M. Copeland, 1968-70; Charles D. Rankin, 1970-72 and John H. Montfort, 1972-74.
As DAR looks forward to the bicentennial of the nation's birth in 1976, so also does the James Blair Chapter and to its own Golden Anniversary in that same year as well.
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