Introducing Our Executive Officers: Historian General

For most of my life, I was unaware I had Revolutionary War ancestors, always believing we were a family of immigrants, though my mom did keep telling me we were “Pennsylvania Dutch”. Who knew what that was! Mom couldn’t define it. My grandmother wasn’t into family history, and my grandfather died when I was six years old. My first two lines were through him, Lawrence Schaub and my third through my grandmother, Pauline Meyer. How I wish she could have lived to be a DAR member.

My husband was active duty military, and our first duty station was in Norfolk, Virginia. We lived in Newport News close to the York County line, and a half hour away from Colonial Williamsburg. I visited Colonial Williamsburg at least once a month with a group of friends who called ourselves, the "Williamburgers." Little did I know that I was drawn to Colonial Williamsburg through my own Revolutionary War DNA.

Jobs and life got in the way. Fast forward ten years later. My grandmother had passed away, and mom was finally sorting through her papers. She found an original promotion paper for a Quartermaster Sergeant, Israel Cramer, with his unit number. I was shocked. Who forgot to tell us we had a Civil War veteran in our ancestry? Mom sent a copy of the paper. 

We were living near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at the time. One day shortly after receiving the document, I was in the Gettysburg Battlefield book shop and saw Tracing Your Civil War Ancestor. I bought it and followed the directions as a very novice genealogist. Pension papers from the National Archives were $10 at that time. Turned out, Israel Cramer was born in York County, Pennsylvania, one hour away from Gettysburg. After following the directions in the book, start with yourself and collect documents, I could prove Israel was my 3rd-Great-Grandfather.  

My husband, Dave, received orders to London, England, later in 1995; and in 1996, I transferred to the Walter Hines Page Chapter. I was active in the chapter and remained a member of this chapter until transferring to the Sophia Fleming Chapter in Orange Park, Florida becoming very active. My mother lived with me at that time and transferred as well. I will always remember her face when I was installed as chapter regent. She passed away during my term, 2011-2013. I cannot imagine her reaction when I was elected Florida State Regent, much less this! I have been so proud, honored and humbled to serve the Florida Daughters as their Membership State Chair, twice; their State Historian (responsible for the compiling and publication of the 2009-2019 State History book, 1,112 pages); State National Defense Chair, State Vice Regent and finally, State Regent 2023-2025.  

As your Historian General for the next three years, it will be my privilege and honor to serve you and Mrs. Storage and her administration during our beloved country’s Semiquincentennial celebration—250 years! It will be my responsibility to Illuminate our Legacy through interest in American history and historic preservation; honoring individuals, groups or teachers who have contributed in a significant way to the education, literary contributions, study and promotion of American history; to encourage state and chapter historians and members to honor outstanding achievement in the study and promotion of American history; commemorate important historical buildings and sites; mark the graves of Revolutionary War Patriots, wives, and Real Daughters; promote and assist with maintaining manuscripts, rare imprints and archival collections at DAR Headquarters; honor outstanding achievements in historic preservation; and recognize outstanding teachers and authors of American history. Looking forward to all the achievements by our states and chapters during the next three years.

Liaison Committees: American History, American Indians, Commemorative Events, DAR Service for Veterans, The Flag of the United States of America, and Historic Preservation.