Daughters of the Republic of Texas

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Daughters of the Republic of Texas
AbbreviationDRT
FormationNovember 6, 1891; 132 years ago (1891-11-06)
HeadquartersAustin, Texas, US
Membership
7,000[1]
President General
Carol Mayo Steakley[2]
WebsiteDaughters of the Republic of Texas

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) is a lineal association dedicated to perpetuating the memory of the founding families and soldiers of the

The Alamo.[3] In early 2015, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush officially removed control of the Alamo to the Texas General Land Office.[4]
The DRT were also the custodians of the historic
State of Texas and is now operated by the Texas Historical Commission. In addition, they operate a museum in Austin on the history of Texas
.

Membership is limited to descendants of ancestors who "rendered loyal service for Texas" prior to February 19, 1846,[5] the date the Republic ceased to exist and Texas handed over authority to the United States.

Beginnings

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas was formed in 1891[6] by cousins Betty Eve Ballinger[7] and Hally Ballinger Bryan Perry.[8][9] The organization was originally called the Daughters of the Lone Star Republic before taking its present name.

The first president of the organization in 1891 was Mary Smith Jones, widow of the Republic's last president Anson Jones.[10] The first chapter that was chartered in DRT was the Sidney Sherman Chapter. The chapter was chartered in Galveston on November 6, 1891.[11]

Hally's father

Texas State Senate. Bryan was a veteran of the American Civil War. He was a charter member and president of the Texas Veterans Association and charter member of the Texas State Historical Association
.

Betty's grandfather William Houston Jack

Texas State Senate
.

Saving the Alamo

A protest must be recorded here against the wanton mutilation of the sculpture of the Missions by thoughtless relic hunters. The shameful chipping of the beautiful carving has been going on for years.

—San Antonio de Bexar-A Guide and History[16] William Corner, 1890

By the late 1880s the historic San Antonio missions were falling into disrepair and becoming subject to vandals. Two dedicated DRT women stepped forward to restore and preserve the Alamo for future generations.

The public entrance known as the Alamo's mission chapel was already owned by the

Roman Catholic Church
in 1883 and had given custody to the City of San Antonio. The city had made no improvements to the chapel structure, and ownership did not include the long barracks (convento).

In 1903,

Adina Emilia De Zavala enlisted heiress and philanthropist Clara Driscoll to join the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and chair the De Zavala fund raising committee to negotiate the purchase of the long barracks (convento) that was owned by wholesale grocers Charles Hugo and Gustav Schmeltzer. The asking price was $75,000,[17]
most of which was donated by Clara Driscoll.

In early 1905,

Texas State Legislature approved, and Governor S. W. T. Lanham signed, the Alamo Purchase Bill[19]
for state funding to preserve the Alamo property. The state reimbursed Clara Driscoll and, on October 4, 1905, the governor formally conveyed the Alamo property, including the convento and the mission church, to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

A divide between two factions erupted over how the long barracks property was to be used. Driscoll and others[20] believed it was not part of the original structure and should be turned into a park. Clara offered to raze the building at her own expense. De Zavala was adamant that the long barracks was part of the original building and where the major part of the battle had occurred. In 1908 De Zavala had a stand-off with authorities inside the structure. By 1911, Governor Oscar Branch Colquitt[21] ordered the long barracks be restored to its original condition as it was in mission days. During the 1912 restoration,[22] workers discovered foundation work that verified De Zavala's instincts that the structure had indeed been an original part of the Alamo.

In 1931, Clara donated another $70,000 to help the state legislature purchase more city property surrounding the shrine. In 1933, she defeated an effort by city engineers who wanted to purchase a portion of the Alamo property to widen Houston Street. In 1935, the persuasive Driscoll convinced the San Antonio Fire Department to reconsider building a new fire station adjacent to the Alamo. As president of the DRT in 1936, she oversaw Centennial celebrations of the shrine.

When Clara died in 1945, her body lay in repose in the Alamo chapel. Adina died in 1955 and her casket draped with the flag of Texas was carried past the Alamo[23] one last time.

Later years

The DRT opposed filming of the 1969 Peter Ustinov comedy Viva Max!,[24] asking the San Antonio city council not to allow the filming.

In 2009,

William Morris Endeavor,[30] and a failed 175th Anniversary symphony concert celebration with musician Phil Collins,[31] the DRT maintained control of the Alamo through 2010, and most of 2011. However, Van De Putte's legislation which gained momentum throughout the 2011 Texas Legislative session, ended up as HB3726. In an extended session, House Bill 3726 was passed and signed by Texas Governor Rick Perry[32] before leaving to begin his campaign for the 2012 Presidential election,[33] effectively ending the DRT's 106-year reign as the sole caretakers of the Alamo. The new law placed the Alamo under the care and leadership of the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The DRT entered into an 18-month operating agreement with the GLO as a State contractor at the Alamo. The DRT's contract with the State expired June 2013.[34]

Membership

Membership in DRT is open to women only, who must meet the following criteria:

Notable members

See also

Further reading

  • Banks, Herbert C (2001). Daughters of Republic of Texas. Turner Pub Co.
    ISBN 978-1-56311-641-4
    .

References

  1. ^ "Chapters". The Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  2. ^ "President General". The Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Daughters of the Republic of Texas Fought Long, Hard to Save the Alamo". The Victoria Advocate. 20 June 1999.
  4. ^ Blanchard, Bobbie. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Sue Land Office, Texas Tribune, March 23, 2015.
  5. ^ Neu C T: Texas Annexation from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 14 June 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  6. ISBN 978-0-471-40138-4
    .
  7. ^ Turner, Elizabeth Hayes: Betty Eve Ballinger from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 14 June 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  8. ^ Jones, Nancy Baker: Hally Ballinger Bryan Perry from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 14 June 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  9. ^ "Hally Ballinger Bryan Perry Texas State Cemetery". Texas State Cemetery. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  10. ^ "Mary (Mrs. Anson) Jones Letters". University of Houston. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  11. ISBN 978-1-57864-834-4
    .
  12. ^ Guy Morrison Bryan from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 14 June 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  13. ^ "Guy Morrison Bryan Texas State Cemetery". Texas State Cemetery. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  14. ^ Cutrer, Thomas W: William Houston Jack from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 14 June 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  15. ^ "William Houston Jack Texas State Cemetery". Texas State Cemetery. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  16. ISBN 978-1-160-25094-8
    .
  17. ISBN 978-0-7432-1233-5
    .
  18. ISBN 978-0-679-72945-7
    .
  19. ^ Kelley, Dayton: Samuel Ealy Johnson, Jr. from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 17 June 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  20. ^ Charles M. Reeves to the San Antonio Business Men's Club, August 30, 1906, De Zavala Papers
  21. ^ "Adina de Zavala to Governor O.B. Colquitt, August 25, 1911". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  22. ^ San Antonio Express, January 25 and 26, 1912, February 4, 1912
  23. ^ Cassidy, Erin. "Miss Adina De Zavala, Angel of the Alamo" (PDF). Newton Gresham Library at Sam Houston State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  24. ^ "Texas Women Reject Alamo Movie Idea". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 29 March 1969.
  25. ^ Weber, Paul J (24 July 2009). "Alamo Rift Divides Group Over Revered Texas Site". ABC News.
  26. ^ Huddleston, Scott (October 6, 2010), "DRT Ousts A Third Outspoken Member", San Antonio Express News
  27. ^ Huddleston, Scott J (13 March 2011). "New Rules for Alamo Guardians". San Antonio Express News.
  28. ^ Huddleston, Scott (March 24, 2011), "AG's Office Draws Line In The Sand For Alamo Caretakers", San Antonio Express News
  29. ^ Huddleston, Scott J (18 May 2012). "Haven CFO to Lead Alamo". San Antonio Express News.
  30. ^ Huddleston, Scott (March 4, 2011), "State Is Reassessing DRT's Role at Alamo", San Antonio Express News
  31. ^ Huddleston, Scott (January 6, 2011), "Alamo Concert Now On Hold", San Antonio Express News
  32. ^ Huddleston, Scott (November 18, 2011), "State, DRT agree on Alamo Trademark", San Antonio Express News
  33. ^ Bacon Jr., Perry (August 13, 2011), "Rick Perry announces he will join 2012 presidential field to challenge President Obama", The Washington Post
  34. ^ Huddleston, Scott (April 25, 2012), "DRT member Assumes New Alamo Post", San Antonio Express News

External links

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