Circle History

King's Daughters Organization currently has nine Circles of Friendship with a total of just over 340 members. A "Circle" is the organizational and functional building block of the KOO. Much like other organizations which have different "Lodge" numbers or branches, KDO has Circles. Each circle consist of a group of ten or more KDO members who have joined together to serve the mission of the organization.

Just like the organization itself, each Circle has a rich history in the Springfield community. They supported many charities in the early and even later in the years financially, sewing clothes and linens for them, and in other ways. Some of the organizations supported in the early years include: Anti-Tuberculosis Society, Lincoln Colored Home, Social Welfare, an Infantile Paralysis clinic The Day Nursery, Traveler's Aid, YWCA, the Home of the Friendless, the Springfield Hospital and of course the King's Daughters Home. There were also notes that clothes were gathered and sewn for in need families and even the digging of a well for a family. Circle history documentation has been left to each Circle to preserve. While some Circles have a deeper history that has been well documented, each is equally important in its service to the King's Daughters' Home and the elderly.

Grateful Daughters Circle of The King's Daughters Organization formed in 1893 and is next to the oldest circle in existence today. Mrs. James W. Patton, one of the first invited members, suggested the name of Grateful Daughters which expressed their gratitude in being the daughters of their distinguished pioneer mothers.

When the King's Daughters' Home first opened, the Circle helped furnish the kitchen and two of its members furnished one of the rooms. There was a time when the membership consisted of mothers, daughters, daughters-in-law, etc. The governor's wife was always asked to be an honorary member. This ended after the George Ryan administration.

Over the years, various fund raising activities have been done such as children and adult style shows and salad luncheons ·with bake sales. In 1985, because Circle membership was dwindling, a motion was made to increase the dues and no longer have a fund raising project. Any surplus is given to the Community Foundation of the Land of Lincoln King's Daughters Organization endowment fund.

At the present time there are 39 active members, 1 honorary member and 10 sustaining members. Meetings are held from September through April, excluding January, with the May meeting being the Annual Corporation Meeting. Members are encouraged to attend and help with the Progress Circle Benefit.

In 1914, Mary Hansel was the Circle's first of ten ladies. In 2008 Leda Thorpe became the Circle's lady, and sadly, Grateful Daughters Circle lost Leda on December 24, 2016. Leda attended many Circle meetings as well as the Annual Corporate Meeting. Four Circle members took her to church every Sunday for four years. She was remembered with gifts and special greetings on her birthday and Christmas.

Food is collected for the First Presbyterian Church Food Pantry, a recipient of a grant in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The Circle also writes notes of appreciation for those participating in Honor Flight. Grateful Daughters members are involved in a variety of volunteer projects outside of King's Daughters. The Circle motto for action, adopted in 1886 when "The King's Daughters" was named, is "Look forward and not back (Hope), Look out and not in (Charity), Look up and not down (Faith) and Lend a hand (Fraternity)," seems to hold true today.

On Monday, May 2, 1955, The Margaret Garfield Circle was presented for membership in the King's Daughters' Organization. Mrs. Melvin (Margaret) Garfield was President of the Corporation at this time. Margaret Garfield served as President from 1952-1958. She attended many of the first meetings of the Circle with her namesake. Today, the Margaret Garfield Circle continues to meet for a monthly lunch meeting September - May (except January). Most meetings are held in members' homes.

The Margaret Garfield Circle was formed by those members of the Georgiana Post Gardner Circle who preferred to meet in the afternoon rather than in the evening. Georgiana Post Gardner served as President of King's Daughters from 1940-1942. Some Circle members who were in the original Circle include Betty Boardman, Barbara Greening (GK), Nancy O'Keefe, Ruth Robert, Phyllis Collins, Doris Boardman, Marjorie Newton and Mary Turner. Ruth Robert has been a member of King's Daughters since 1949 and is a current member of Margaret Garfield Circle. Barbara Greening was also an Active member until her death December 26, 2017.

Many members have served on the board with six serving as Executive President of King's Daughters. Over the years the Margaret Garfield Circle made contributions to the Carrie Post King's Daughters' Home which included contributions to the redecoration of the second floor sun porch, the TV room, and the front parlor. The Circle sold pecans for many years in the fall as a means of fundraising. Members also supported many women of the Home through visits and friendship. Currently, contributions to the fulfillment of the mission of King's Daughters Organization include a monthly bingo game, for which cash prizes are provided, Daily Bread Deliveries, an Annual St. Patrick's Day Party, a planned activity/entertainment at least once a year, and friendship and support to our "adopted" senior at the Illinois Presbyterian Home - Fair Hills Residence.

The Friendship Circle of King's Daughters was organized in the fall of 1920. Mrs. Ida Prather was President of the Carrie Post King's Daughters' Home for Women at the time. The intention of the House Board of Directors was to have every room in the Home sponsored and cared for by its own circle. Mrs. Prather made the request to form a circle of friends to Mrs. Alva Shepard and Eva Northcutt Barber. Mrs. Barber was closely associated with the Home since early in 1900.

Mrs. Prather and Mrs. Council, Alva Shepard's mother, were members of the Willing Circle and were greatly interested that a group of younger women form a Circle of their own, instead of going into their Mother's Circles.

The first five who would accept an office were selected: Mrs. Millicent Seifert Taylor, wife of Dr. Percy Taylor and close friend of Mrs. Shepherd, agreed to be the first President of Friendship Circle. Mrs. Bess Council Shepherd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Council agreed to be Vice President. Mrs. Gertrude Canham accepted the office of Treasurer.

M Canh was a member of the Jewelry Firm of Canham and Tobin. Mrs. Harriet Van Me- ~ am fi ter Barber was Secretary. Mrs. Eva Northcutt Barber was the rst board member and remained on the board as House Chairman for twelve years.

In 1920 Mrs. Sidney Breeze, wife of a well-known attorney was the "organizer" of the King's Daughters. The first five selected to form the circle ~et at ~er_home on_ South Fourth Street to plan, name and select a membership. Membership was hm1t~d to thirty. The first five asked five friends to join. After about two years the membership was completed to thirty. Three hostesses would serve together for the ten months pledged to meet. The hostesses were chosen alphabetically. A tea and refreshment period were planned after the meeting at i:oo p.m. This arrangement did not work too well, because it ran too closely to the dinner hour. All of the members had families to look after as well. Soon it was changed to a lunch menu instead of tea and the lunch was to be at 1:00 p.m.

The rooms at the Home when the Friendship Circle originated were limited. Several of the rooms were cared for and furnished by individuals as memorials for certain especially interested people or donors. So in 1920, the Circle was organized with aims to aid where help and money were most needed. Once a small room was redone for the private use of the Matron of the Home. Another time a much neglected, old dark, dank cellar was cleaned by the Friendship Circle. Another time, much time was spent cleaning and rearranging in a business like attic.

Friendship Circle has always been a dependable prop for any chore assigned at the Home. Teas were hosted for many occasions, the Home decorated for the Holiday Seasons, Circle members worked on improving the grounds and always kept the room in good condition. Many birthday parties were held through the years for the Circle Lady. Often chicken, oysters, apples, vegetables and canned goods for special days, like New Year, Easter and Christmas were furnished by Friendship Circle.

Historic Note oflnterest: One of Friendship Circle's members was Charlotte Ide Jess (January 31, 1887-December 11, 1993) Mrs. Jess (widow of Robert Emmit Jess) is buried in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery. Her obituary reads in part like this:

"Mrs. Jess was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Friendship Circle of King's Daughters. In addition to being a homemaker, she enjoyed painting and was an amateur artist, and displayed several of her works in her home. The daughter of a prominent Springfield family, Mrs. Jess grew up in a sprawling white house a~ Fifth Street and Keys Avenue. Her grandfather was Albert Ide, an inventor and personal friend of Thomas Edison. Ide developed the Ideal engine - a high-speed automatic engine used to produce electricity. The engine, marketed worldwide brought the family a sizable fortune.

Mrs. Jess, in her youth, attended parties at Susan Lawrence Dana's Home and dances at the Leland Hotel. One of her lasting memories was when Charles Lindbergh flew the first load of air mail into the city."

The Circle has been able to trace back a two-generation membership in Friendship Circle: charter member Mrs. Harry (Alice Watts) Luehrs and her daughter, Margaret Luehrs Summers (November 27, 1920- April 24, 2002). Margaret always jokingly considered herself a "charter member" of Friendship Circle since she was born the year the circle was formed. Margaret was a very active member of Friendship Circle for many years.

Another noteworthy mention is current member Maryann Walker. She joined Friendship Circle in 2005 after having served as Administrator of the King's Daughters' Home from September 11, 1989-November 16, 2003.

At this time, there are 11 Active members; 3 Sustaining members; and 1 Honorary member (Beth ~illian, joined 1977). Circle meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the following months: September, October, November, February, March, April, and June. The location is decided at the current meeting for the following meeting and reservations are made by the Vice leader.

The story of the Marjorie Post Nightingale Circle is a tale of three Circles of Friendship. The Circle is proudly named after Marjorie Post, an iconic figure in history, and the Nightingale Circle, which formed from the Esther Circle.

Marjorie Merriweather Post, daughter of Charles William and Ella Letitia Merriweather Post, was born March 15, 1887, at the Post family home at 541 Black Avenue in Springfield, IL. The Post home later became known as the Carrie Post King's Daughters' Home for Women. Marjorie was greatly known for her philanthropy and, through the years, generously contributed to the King's Daughters Home. Marjorie's last journey to Springfield was in June 1966. She visited the King's Daughters' Home, visited with the residents and was their special guest for Sunday dinner. She died September 12, 1973, at her Hillwood Manor in Washington, D.C. Upon her death, the King's Daughters' home was named beneficiary of a $100,000 Trust Fund.

In 1937, Georgiana Post Gardner, Marjorie's second cousin, became President of the King's Daughters' Home. On October 27, 1937, a meeting was held to organize a new circle. The circle's first meeting was held on November 10, 1937. Ms. Gardner suggested the circle be named in honor of the granddaughter of Carrie Post. By unanimous vote, the name Marjorie Post was adopted.

The Nightingale Circle was formed in September of 1956, by the daughters of the Esther Circle. The ladies of the new circle wanted to meet in the evening because some of them worked during the day and others had young children and needed their husbands to babysit. The first meeting was held at the home of Lois Koenig. Lois is still a member of the Marjorie Post Nightingale Circle. The first duty of the Circle was to develop an apartment for the custodian of the King's Daughters' Home. Members were also responsible for meeting the needs of their lady residing at the King's Daughters' Home, including furnishing her room, if necessary, providing linens and visiting her.

The Nightingale Circle found its numbers dwindling due to the aging of its members. As their sisters had done throughout history, this circle of sisters found a way to survive and thrive. They joined with the Marjorie Post Circle. The Marjorie Post Nightingale Circle emerged strong and vibrant.

Today, the Marjorie Post Nightingale Circle has 17 active members, one sustaining member and one honorary member. Meetings are held at various private clubs in Springfield, on the second Wednesday of the month for nine months out of the year. Activities of the Circle include assisting in Christmas events and providing entertainment at the Fair Hills Illinois Presbyterian Home in Springfield, writing notes of appreciation for those participating in the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight and greeting the veterans when they return to Springfield.

The mission of The Marjorie Post Nightingale Circle, echoing the mission of the King's Daughters Organization, is to be steadfast in our commitment to the support and well-being of the elderly in our community.

The Mary A Lawrence Circle was sta1ted in 1904. It is named in honor of one of Springfield former leading community members. Mrs. Lawrence, wife of Rheuna Lawrence for whom both Lawrence Avenue and Lawrence school are named, was also the mother of Susan Dana. She and her daughter Susan hosted many events to help the Springfield community in their beautiful home on South 4th Street designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, now known as the Dana Thomas House, a state historic site.

The first officers of the Mary Lawrence circle were: Leader - Mrs. D. Logan Giffin, Vice Leader - Mrs. John 0. Garm, Treasurer - Mrs. Henry Luers, Corresponding Secretary - Mrs. H.B. Hill, and Board members - Mrs. J. Hall and Mrs. Arthur Gottschalk.

The original mission of Mary Lawrence was to care for the kitchen. There were many circles and not enough ladies at the Home to go around. The Mary A. Lawrence Circle cared for the kitchen for 58 years. Major appliances were purchased when they needed replacing, paid repair bills, supplied kitchen linens, paid for painting and redecorating, and bought Christmas gifts for the kitchen workers.

In 1990, Mary Lawrence Circle was thrilled to get its first "lady". Her name was Fern Zuckerworth and she was already over 90 years old. She was a very energetic lady who had worked at Roland's Department Store for many years. She had a step-daughter out of town, but no family in Springfield, so we had a wonderful time taking her into our hearts and homes. She loved going to lunch and dinner at members' homes. Also she loved going out to eat and preferred MCL Cafeteria over Illini Country Club. Fern loved pretty clothes and going shopping. She was always thrilled with the clothes we bought her at Christmas time. Circle members were saddened when she passed away at the age of 97 after a short illness. She died Feb. 3, 1995. At the end of 1993 the Circle got a second lady, Helen Rossi, whose family lived in Springfield. She was a sweet woman and enjoyed the Circle members. Not much attention was required for Helen because she had family in Springfield. In June of 1995, four months after Fem died, the Circle got another lady, Mabel Nessler.

In the old days, the Circle members had many style shows and rummage sales. The money raised went toward kitchen expenses. One year, style show proceeds went toward the new elevator. There is interesting commentary about those style shows in Mary A. Lawrence Circle notes. Compared to today, styles were quite high fashion. In 1997, there was a free will offering for extra money. In 1998, The Circle sold a book written by past president, Barbara Archer. It is entitled "A Kitchen Garden Primer" and features the Rutledge Tavern Culinary and lower garden at Lincoln's New Salem where Barbara was a master gardener and hearth cook.

Today, Mary A Lawrence members volunteer with Red Cross Meals on Wheels and Springfield Senior Services Center Daily Bread Program. Canned goods are collected for the Loami Food Pantry as needed.

The Polly Roesch Circle is the newest circle and was founded October 2013 by Sue Shevlin and Linda Younkin. The Circle name was chosen to honor Mrs. Polly Roesch, a longtime King's Daughters Organization member who also sang in the choir at Christ the King Church. Since many of the current members sing in the choir, it is a fitting tribute to a wonderful woman who was a great patron of the arts. Poly married Walter Roesch in 1934. During WWII, she held her first presidency at the New Berlin Woman's Club before she and Walter moved to Springfield. Polly began her life of philanthropy after Walter's death in 1977 and continued to support many causes through volunteerism and donations until her death at the age of 102.

The Polly Roesch Circle supports the Springfield King's Daughters Organization focus of providing services to the elderly in the Land of Lincoln region, such as participating in the delivery of meals for Daily Bread, providing entertainment at The Illinois Presbyterian Home-:--Fair Hills Residence, welcoming veterans who have traveled on the Honor Flight, and bemg a personal shopper for residents at Fair Hills Residence. In addition, members have created and donated handmade warm fleece blankets, cooked and delivered meals to people from our parish, and become Communion Ministers to shut-ins. The Circle meets once a month in the evenings.

The Mary Blackstock Circle was originated on February 22, 1936 at the home of Miss Jenkins who served as the first leader. Mary Hardtner Blackstock and her husband, Ira Burton Blackstock, were prominent citizens in Springfield. He owned the ice and cold storage company and was active in the construction of railroads in the southwestern United States. She inherited land in Illinois and southwest Kansas, and her father was one of the leading developers of downtown Springfield. They were amply able to be philanthropic leaders in the city. Their greatest interest was the First Methodist Church and its affiliated institutions. However, Mrs. Blackstock served as president of the YMCA for many years and was president of the King's Daughters' Home for eight years as a member of Willing Circle. Seeing the need for more circles, she asked Miss Emma Louisa Jenkins, a young lady in the church, to do so.

Miss Jenkins invited some friends with whom she had grown up and were also members of Powder Puff Club, a social one, to join her. The first officers elected were: Leader, Miss Jenkins. First Vice Leader, Mrs. Locke. Second Vice Leader, Mrs. Shuster. Secretary, Mrs. White. Treasurer, Mrs. Brunk. The first members were as follows; Mrs. Heaton Buckley, Dorothy Jan Brunk, Mrs. Robert Locke, Ruth Nuess, Mrs. Francis Shuster, Polly Souther, Mrs. Otis White, Jane Dixon, Mrs. AP. McMinn, Myra Locke, Mrs. Richards Irwin, Marjorie Sprinkle, Mrs. William Van Meter and Ruth Wanless.

The first fundraiser was a card party and style show held at the Leland Hotel. The newspapers were generous in publishing pictures of the committees to encourage attendance and as social news. A few of those photos remain in a scrapbook. The following Christmas the group had a dance and carnival at the Knights of Columbus Hall. For several years a Derby Day Party featured dancing and style shows. The latter sometimes showed styles of yesteryear or even just hats of new and old vintage. Musical highlights were always presented as there were some talented singers in the circle. The Leland Hotel and Illini Country Club were among the favorite locations for the events. Proceeds were the source of the donations to the King's Daughters' Home. At the 61st Annual Open House of the King's Daughters Home, the Circle presented a beautiful silver coffee urn in honor of Mrs. Blackstock. Mrs. Williams, the resident in the room at the Home, was pictured in the Illinois State Journal receiving the first cup of coffee served from the urn.

Ira and Mary Blackstock left land in Kansas to the King's Daughters' Home which the home inherited in 1954. In 1956, while Margaret Garfield was Executive President, the land was sold for $27,000.75, however, the mineral rights were kept by King's Daughters. Today the King's Daughters Organization receives deposits for the oil and gas mined from the land. A Blackstock Grant Committee was created under the leadership of Executive President Suzie Sables Duff, current member of the Mary Blackstock Circle. At the Annual Corporation meeting in 2017 the first Blackstock Grant was awarded in the amount of $50,0000 to SIU School of Medicine - Center for Alzheimer's disease and Related Disorders and the Alzheimer's Association - Greater Illinois Chapter. Today the Circle has 43 active, 4 sustaining and 3 honorary members. Circle members drive for Meals on Wheels each month and visit, assist and love the remaining "Lady" that was a resident at the King's Daughters' Home, Joy Beath, who is so much like her name, a Joy.

Based on an old newspaper clipping from 1957, the Progress Circle was founded in 1907.

"It was in 1907, just so years ago that a portentous drama was enacted at the home of Mrs. George Thomas Palmer. Mrs. John Deal Sr. organized a group of young ladies into Progress Circle of Kings Daughters with Mrs. Palmer their first president."

Some of the Progress Circles Charter Members include: Mrs. V.Y. Dallman Sr., Mrs. George E Keys, Mrs. Robert C Lanphier Sr., Mrs. George T. Palmer, Mrs. V.Y. Dallman, and Mrs. Charles L. Patton. Records indicate that a member paid 10 cents if she missed a meeting, and that first year they raised $25 of the upkeep of the King's Daughters' Home.

The Progress Circle is very proud of the many multi-generational members that have been a part of the organization.

In 1946, the Progress Circle began the still standing tradition of the Progress Circle Annual Luncheon and Style Show as a way to fundraise for the King's Daughters' Home. For many years the Circle members have organized and hosted the event and it has become a much anticipated social event in the community every year in the month of October. Many thousands of dollars have been raised for the organization. Today all of the active Circles take part in the wonderful tradition. Since the Home on Black Avenue has been sold, each year the majority of the funds raised has been placed in the endowment fund at the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln.

Progress Circle meets at noon on the third Wednesday of the month, September through April (except December), at Illini Country Club. As well as hosting the Annual Luncheon and Style Show, the members volunteer as personal shoppers at the Illinois Presbyterian Home - Fair Hills Residences and deliver meals for Senior Services Center Daily Bread Program and Red Cross Meals on Wheels. Today there are 80 members of the Circle.

The Willing Ten Circle of King's Daughters was organized March 3, 1890 at the home of Kate Black on South 6th Street with Mrs. Alex Pringle presiding. Mrs. P.F. Kimble was chosen first Leader. No definite plan of work was decided upon except to care for the sick and needy, especially elderly ladies. In April, 1891, it was advised to change the name to Willing Circle because it had far exceeded the limit of ten. This remains the name of the Circle today. The name was suggested by Ephesians 6:7: "With good will, down service as to the Lord and not to men." Circles were later named in honor of members of the Willing Circle, such as Mary H. Blackstock Circle and Margaret Garfield Circle. The Willing Circle is the oldest circle that has existed continuously of the remaining Circles of the King's Daughters Organization. Invaluable history has been meticulously recoded and preseived through the years for the Willing Circle and the organization. In March of 1973, Bernice Walter relayed some historical facts regarding Willing Circle:

"At present we are paying $10.00 per year dues, payable in May. In 1943, when I became a member, we were paying $5.00 and 65 cents for lunch at the Elks Club. During Margaret Garfield's presidency of the Corporation, times were very hard for them, and she suggested that we - her circle - double our dues, which we did. But we tried other ways of raising money. Mrs. Winning sponsored Memorial Teas, and Mrs. Garfield and Mrs. Shriner gave teas, but in the end the most satisfactory was just to pay higher dues - and one time $12.00. Mrs. Winning moved that we have no limit on the number our membership and that has been a big help. At one time we gave quite a large sum of money to be used on a memorial garden. In 1943 Mrs. Blackstock and a committee were compiling the 50 year history of Willing Circle. They gave one copy to Mr. Paul Angle to place in the State Archives. He complimented them highly on it. Two copies were turned over to the secretary of the Circle - one to be kept as a permanent record, one to be joined to new members to read. At the end of each ten-year period a resume has been written of that period. Mrs. Shriner, when Leader, said we needed an historian and asked me to seive. The hardest part of that job was to be sure none of the records were lost."

In 2018 with fifteen members strong. Willing Circle meets at noon on the first Tuesday of the month, from September through May (except January), at Illini Country Club.

Members volunteer with St. John's Hospital Third Age Living and with the Senior Services Center for its Holiday Baskets and Daily Bread Program meal delivery.

Willing continues to honor its history as it welcomes another 125 years of service to seniors.

“We assisted one particular client who is a single female in her late 60s with her utilities. She had some unexpected health issues, which resulted in unexpected medical bill. Being on a fixed income making sure that her all of her bills were paid on time was becoming a challenge. Thankfully through the assistance of KDO we were able to pay her CWLP bill so she didn’t get disconnected. Her appreciation was so great that she was moved to tears and later mailed us a thank you card. So many of our senior clients are like this individual in that they are living on a fixed income, their dollar isn’t going as far, they face unexpected bills, but don’t have the money to fall back on.”

Catholic Charities

Patrick McConnell, Area Director

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2020-2040

2001-2002

1982-2020

1961-1981

1940-1960

1890-1940

Brenda Staab, Mary Blackstock Circle, 2018 - 2020

Cindy Denby, Progress Circle, 2016 - 2018

Suzie Stables Duff, Mary Blackstock Circle, 2014 - 2016

Teresa McElwee, Margaret Garfield Circle, 2012 - 2014

Sue Shevlin, Progress Circle, 2010 - 2012

Cathy Schwartz, Mary Blackstock Circle, 2008 - 2010

Donna Jean Gibney, Margaret Garfield Circle, 2005 - 2008

Jean McLain, Progress Circle, 2003 - 2005

Barbara Archer, Mary A Lawrence Circle, 2001 - 2003