As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another. In 2015, the Sacajawea Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) approached our Legacy Washington program about volunteering in some capacity. The DAR chapter, based in Olympia, was working on a project to gather all of the biographical information on the Washington State Regents, the women who head the DAR in the state, since its inception in 1894. After accepting DAR’s offer, Legacy Washington soon thought it would be great to add these women to its Washington LegacyMakers online biographical database. The database includes Washingtonians who have served in public office and activist roles. There was quick agreement that the DAR fits into this category. As a way to mark the DAR chapter’s inclusion in LegacyMakers, Legacy Washington honored 35 members of the chapter at a reception in Secretary of State Wyman’s office. Assistant Secretary of State Mark Neary served as emcee.

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DAR members listen to a presentation during the reception.

• Elizabeth Lord, whose name is recognizable from the Lord Mansion near the Capitol. In 1905, Elizabeth was one of the Sacajawea Chapter’s founding members. She was active in the Red Cross as chairman of the membership committee, and she worked with soldiers at Camp Lewis during World War I.
• Ada McCleary, the wife of Henry McCleary, who founded the town of McCleary. Ada’s main project as State Regent was completing the markers for the Oregon Trail. She served as national chairwoman for the Old Trails Road Committee from 1915-17. Her work in this position led to her election as vice president general of the National Daughters of the American Revolution from 1920 to 1923.