Photo by Terrie Johnson Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution from all over the state joined the Benjamin Prescott Chapter at the Athenaeum Hotel at Chautauqua Institution to celebrate their 120th anniversary.

CHAUTAUQUA — Members of the Benjamin Prescott Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) celebrated the 120th anniversary of its chapter at the Athenaeum Hotel at Chautauqua Institution.

Distinguished guests included Wilhelmina Rhodes Kelly, New York state vice regent; Theresa Willemsen, state chaplain; Mary Cardinale, state recording secretary; Patrice Birner, state historian; and Meredith Chilson, District VIII director.

Brenda Johnson, regent for the Benjamin Prescott Chapter based in Westfield, welcomed members and guests to the anniversary luncheon. She said the Athenaeum Hotel and Chautauqua Institution hold much DAR history, as well as women’s history in general.

Johnson highlighted the women’s suffrage movement that was well-underway during the early days of the formation of the Benjamin Prescott Chapter. The movement was important because it resulted in passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that finally allowed women the right to vote.

Susan B. Anthony, American social reformer and women’s rights activist, played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement. Elnora Babcock of the National American Woman Suffrage Association was a speaker at 31st annual Convention of the New York State Women’s Suffrage Association that was held in her hometown of Dunkirk in November 1899.

Kelly talked about the movement and how her grandmother was 30 years old when she voted for the first time.

Johnson began with a history of the Benjamin Prescott Chapter that held its first meeting Jan. 2, 1899, when 15 ladies met at the home of Martha Jane “Jennie” Prescott, on Central Avenue, in Fredonia. Prescott became the chapter’s first regent and the organization was named after her great-grandfather, Col. Benjamin Prescott. In the original meeting, there was a discussion about the much-anticipated visit of the Marquis de Lafayette and the arrangements to celebrate his visit.

Since recognizing and marking graves of fallen Revolutionary War soldiers was an important activity for the early NSDAR Chapters, a roll call of the original members, along with their ancestor soldier’s name and where he was laid to rest was announced.

Members dressed in period attire presented a program entitled “Take a Step Back in Time,” which was a reenactment of the first chapter meeting of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Benjamin Prescott Chapter. In the presentation, original members were portrayed by current members who transported attendees back to 1899.

In 1899, the charter officers of the Benjamin Prescott Chapter were Martha Jane “Jennie” Prescott, regent; Mary Elizabeth Saxton Negus, vice regent; Isabelle White, registrar; Charlotte Eddy Forbe Kingsland, recording secretary; Candace Eva Griffith, treasurer; and Ella McClanathan Rolph, historian.

Wilhelmina Rhodes Kelly, New York state vice regent, was guest speaker at Saturday’s event.

Charter members in 1899 were Marian Eldridge Scott Beldon, Mary Cobb, Mary Susan Hall Hall, Elizabeth J. Andrew Hopkins, Kittie M. Wygant Hunn, Caroline J. White Newton, Ella Brooks Smith Sly, Alice Rose Kimball Waterhouse and Martha M. Wheelock Wygant.

Today, the Benjamin Prescott Westfield Chapter has 37 members. Current officers for 2019 are Brenda Johnson, regent; Roxanne Wood, vice regent; Barbara Pietro, registrar; Bonnie Larkin, treasurer; Linda Kuzara, recording/corresponding secretary; Lisa Sedlmayer, chaplain; and Myra Johnston, historian.

The primary objective of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is service, which is emphasized through historic preservation, promotion of education and patriotic endeavor. The local chapter is constantly exerting effort toward achieving these goals, and also helps to maintain the national headquarters where the beautiful museum and the extensive genealogical reference library are located.

Through its patriotic and educational programs, the influence of the organization is far reaching. The projects include marking historic sites, presenting awards for good citizenship, essay contests involving patriotic and historic subjects and participation in community activities.

The next DAR meeting will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Patterson Library, in Westfield.

Anyone with an ancestor that fought for freedom in the Revolutionary War and would like to join the Benjamin Prescott Chapter should contact Barbara Pietro at 366-4600 or by email at jbpietro@gmail.com.