Aurantia Chapter DAR, Riverside, California

Aurantia Chapter
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
8-010-CA
Riverside, California
Organized December 10, 1905

Snowcapped Mtns. and Orange Groves
Riverside, California
1905 - Taken the year Aurantia was Founded.

Mrs. Katherine Tootle was the moving spirit behind the organization of Aurantia Chapter. She called together a group of women to start a new chapter on May 10, 1905. She was selected Regent on June 15, 1905, but could not serve. When she resigned, the elected Vice Regent, Ruth Faxon Macrae, became Regent with Kate Dudley Wheelock taking office as Vice Regent; four charter members were granddaughters of the Revolutionary soldiers: Sophia Wood Plimpton (Mrs. Homer A.), Avis Allen Tallman (Miss), Julia Maria Tallman (Miss), Clara Maria Rowell Dole (Mrs. George H.).

Riverside's Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree
California Historical Landmark No. 20

Riverside, California was the center of the greatest orange growing district in the world. The name Aurantia, meaning golden, was chosen from the botanical name of the orange tree, Citrus Aurantium. On December 10, 1905, Aurantia became the six hundred ninety-fourth chapter of the National Society and the ninth chapter to be organized in California.

original riverside parent orange tree gavel

"The minutes of the 09 January 1924 Aurantia meeting record the presentation of a gavel made of wood from the parent navel orange tree, replanted by Teddy Roosevelt (see picture below), that use to stand in the courtyard of the Mission Inn. It was presented by two chapter members Marion Clark Miller and Alice Miller Hutchings. A motion to add a silver plate with an inscription to the gavel passed on 14 June 1926. This gavel is still in use by our chapter and one of our most treasured possessions."

The inscription reads: "WOOD OF PARENT NAVEL ORANGE TREE AURANTIA CHAPTER, D.A.R. RIVERSIDE,~ CALIFORNIA FROM FRANK A. MILLER, 1924

The gavel measures 10 1/4 inches long by 2 5/8 inches high.

This picture of our chapter's gavel and its history can also be seen
at the Mission Inn Foundation & Museum, after October 1, 2006.

Teddy Roosevelt replanting the parent navel orange tree.

Our Chapter's Theme:

Shine Like Stars in the DAR

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12:3

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded on October 11, 1890. It is a service organization dedicated to:

Historic Preservation

Promotion of Education

Patriotic Endeavors

The DAR Motto: God, Home and Country

We welcome any woman for membership, who is over 18 years of age and who is descended from a man or woman who aided in achieving American Independence, during the period between April 19, 1775, and November 26, 1783.

             NSDAR Founders statue

California State Society                           NSDAR

For further information about DAR or joining a chapter, please contact the Registrar, Barbara Wescott, or the Regent, Diane Stephens. Refer to Eligibility for membership eligibility details.

Webmaster: Sjana Bauer
Revised: September 12, 2006

VIS Website of the Month, September 2006

Click here to join Aurantia Chapter DAR Yahoo! Chat

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Webset courtesy of:

The active content on our website are from scripts to make our mouse over buttons and our website counter. A special thank you to Steve Lech author of "Riverside in Vintage Postcards" for the black and white postcards on our website, which are in our chapter's personal collection. The star graphics & California icon (in URL bar) courtesy of Icon Bizarre; the animated flags courtesy of Free Animated Flags.

Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.