Thomasville Chapter member Janet Campbell, left, received the Junior American Citizens Thatcher Award for her dedication and longtime leadership as chair of the Junior American Citizens (JAC) Committee for the Thomasville Chapter DAR.

The April meeting of the Thomasville Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) featured a fascinating program by Colleen Muscha, Director of the M.F.A. Costume Design Program, School of Theatre at Florida State University. She was introduced by Thomasville Chapter Registrar Pamela Tucker. 

Muscha’s program on Authentic Colonial/American Revolution Period Costumes included a PowerPoint presentation and sample costumes. Clothing for women during the American Revolution included the wearing of chemise, corsets, and pannier undergarments. There were several types of dress for women during the 18th century including the “mantua” which was a gown fitted into the waist at the back and worn open at the front to show a matching petticoat. Pockets were not sewn into dresses so a ribbon belt with pockets was tied around the waist under the petticoat. Some dresses were made of silk brocade in floral patterns with detachable lace cuffs. The dress of the period was the “polonaise” which is taking the outer skirt and lifting it up in two areas to create this kind of swagged overskirt.

Toward the end of the Revolutionary War, the clothing began to change to a Muslin dress made of white, soft, lightweight cotton. One hat worn by women was the Calash Bonnet which protected different hairstyles in all types of weather. The calash was formed like the hood of a carriage and tied under the chin. The popular shoes worn by women during the period were leather with metal buckles or jewels. Men wore waistcoats which were knee length and tapered in the back called a swallowtail. They wore linen shirts with a jabot of lace or fringe, knee length pants called breeches and shoes with buckles.

At the April meeting, Thomasville Chapter DAR Regent Shelba Sellers, Chaplain Drucilla Bennett and Registrar Pamela Tucker inducted new member Sallijo Archer, who proved her lineage from her Revolutionary War Ancestor, James Eidson who served in South Carolina. New members take a membership oath and receive a DAR pin. Archer’s daughter, Roxanne Abell is also a new member of the Thomasville Chapter DAR.

During the meeting, Regent Shelba Sellers announced that the Thomasville Chapter DAR had received numerous awards in March at the Georgia State Society DAR State Conference. Chapter awards included NSDAR Chapter Achievement Award – Level 1, GSSDAR Chapter Achievement Award for Top Chapter in Southwest District, State Honor Roll, Hightower Award for support of DAR Schools, Service to America hours recognition, 1900 Society Meadow Garden Patron, and National Award for Luminary Challenge. Regent Sellers also presented chapter member Janet Campbell with the Junior American Citizens Thatcher Award for her dedication and longtime leadership as Chair of the Junior American Citizens (JAC) Committee for the Thomasville Chapter DAR.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. More than one million women have joined the DAR since it was founded. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org.

For more information about the Thomasville Chapter DAR, visit thomasville.georgiastatedar.org or the Chapter’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ThomasvilleChapterNSDAR.