Chapter History

In 1920, three friends, Mrs. Anna Rogers, Mrs. Ella Withrow, and Mrs. Ella Marie Lightner, often spoke of organizing a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Bakersfield. Mrs. C. C. Cottle (she was probably the state organizing secretary) wrote Mrs. Rogers, asking her to be the organizing regent, stating she wished a chapter to be organized in Bakersfield before she went out of office. Mrs. Rogers consented and was appointed regent on April 17, 1920, and the three friends became the first three regents of the chapter.

The preliminary meetings were held at the home of the organizing regent, but on April 26, 1921, the chapter was organized at the home of Mrs. A. W. (Lavinia) Bannister on Edison Road, and the name Bakersfield Chapter was chosen in honor of Colonel Thomas Baker, civil engineer, every-day developer of the San Joaquin Valley. Serving as president general was Mrs. Anne Belle Rogers Minor; Mrs. Sarah Foster Harshbarger served the State Society as state regent.

 Organizing Officers of Bakersfield Chapter

Regent, Mrs. Anna Casement Rogers

Vice Regent, Mrs. Ella Maria Henry

Recording Secretary, Mrs. Florence Campbell

Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Ella Marie Cornman Lightner

Treasurer, Mrs. Nora H. Brush Burton

Registrar, Mrs. Nellie A. Taylor Pomeroy

Historian, Mrs. Margaret Lawrence Tibbits Webb

Written in 1991 by Mrs. Betty Helsebus, Regent 1972-1974