Oklahoma DAR Chapter Celebrates 100th Year

By Rick Wells, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The Oklahoma Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution is turning 100-years-old.

As part of the celebration, there was to be a minuet demonstration at the annual Martha Washington Tea.

Leah Dunn and Jennifer Randolph from Miss Shelly's School of Dance demonstrated the minuet for Martha Washington Tea. It's the Tulsa chapter of the DAR's annual gathering.

"We're a patriotic, historical and genealogical organization in nature," said Mary Duffe, Oklahoma Regent.

Mary Duffe is the state regent, or president, of the DAR in Oklahoma. To be eligible for membership there must be a family member traceable back to the revolution.

Linda Hughey is a new member of the DAR. It took her years of research.

"Found out my five time great-grandfather was a revolutionary soldier in South Carolina," said Hughey.

Some people went to the tea in period costume. Stuart Denslow was very smartly turned out, like one of George Washington's officers.

The program organizers called Shelly Ledbetter about a minuet demonstration. She said in all her years of dancing and teaching dance -- no minuet, but the internet is such a wonderful resource.

So, Jennifer and Leah studied and prepared a short demonstration. It turns out the minuet was the hip and happening dance of the 18th century.

Many of the men at Wednesday's tea are members of the SAR, the Sons of the American Revolution.

The SAR is the original organization. In 1889, women wanted to join the SAR, but the men said no, so those ladies formed the DAR.