Native Daughters of the Golden West facts for kids
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| Founded | 1886 |
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| Founder | Lilly O. Reichling |
| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Focus | California history and heritage |
| Location | |
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Grand President
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Darleen Carpenter, 2024-2025 |
| Website | Official website: http://www.ndgw.org/ |
The Native Daughters of the Golden West is a special group for women who were born in California. It's a non-profit organization, which means it works to help people and doesn't aim to make money. Their main goal is to protect and share the amazing history of California. This group is like a sister organization to the Native Sons of the Golden West.
Contents
History of the Native Daughters
How the Group Started
| Pioneer Hall | |
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| Location | 113 Main St., Jackson, California, United States |
| Reference no. | 34 |
The Native Daughters of the Golden West began in a historic building called Pioneer Hall. This hall is in Jackson, California. The very first meeting happened on September 11, 1886. About 20 women gathered in the basement of the hall.
Lilly O. Reichling called this first meeting. Pioneer Hall is now a special California Historical Landmark. On September 25, 1886, the group officially formed. Lilly O. Reichling became the Secretary. Tina L. Kane was chosen as the first President. They decided to call their meeting places "Parlors." Their first group was named Ursula.
Ursula Parlor No. 1 and Early Days
On March 7, 1887, the first official leaders of Ursula No. 1 were announced. This founding group had thirty-three members. Their first symbol was a small deer, called a fawn. Later, they changed their symbol to include parts of the Roman goddess Minerva. These new symbols were an oriflamme (a special banner) and bundles of wheat. They also added the letters "P.D.F.A."
The group's main ideas were: "Love of Home, Devotion to the Flag of our Country, Veneration of the Pioneers of California, and an Abiding Faith in the Existence of God." These important ideas are still part of the group today. Between March and June of 1887, seventeen more Parlors were started. In July, they held their first big meeting, called the Grand Parlor, in San Francisco, California.
The Group Today
The main San Francisco Parlor is in a building designed by a famous architect. Her name was Julia Morgan. The Native Daughters continue their work to preserve California's past.
Important Members
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Many women have been important members of this organization. Some notable members include:
- Laura J. Frakes
- Eliza D. Keith, who was a Grand President
- Edith Christensen Wilson
What the Native Daughters Do
The Native Daughters of the Golden West work on projects that help keep California's history and traditions alive. They do many different things, such as:
- Helping to restore old California Missions.
- Keeping a list of California's early settlers, called Pioneers.
- Giving out scholarships to students.
- Working to protect the environment.
- Helping children through various programs.
- Creating and maintaining historic landmarks across California.
See also
