Mrs. William Henry Sims, State Regent 1894 – 1900
In 1893, Elizabeth Upson Sims of Columbus was admitted to the National Society. She was elected state regent of Mississippi in Washington, D.C., and served from 1894 to 1900.
In the spring of 1896, Alice Quitman Lovell gathered together some of the ladies of Natchez whom she knew to be eligible for membership in the DAR and suggested to them that they form a chapter of the organization in Natchez. Miss Lovell had recently returned from Massachusetts, where she had become interested in the work of the National Society, DAR. Since she was a direct descendant of General John A. Quitman, of Mexican War fame, it was fitting that she should be the founder of a chapter of an organization inspired by patriotic fervor. It was also fitting that Natchez, rich in history, should take the lead in organizing the DAR in Mississippi.
It was on May 5, 1896, that twelve ladies of Natchez banded together at the Quitman ancestral home, Monmouth, in Natchez, and formed the Natchez Chapter. So began the Mississippi State Society, NSDAR, the 35th state society to organize. By common consent, Miss Lovell was elected chapter regent and served until 1900, when she became state regent.
The MSSDAR Centennial was celebrated in 1996, with many special activities by the state society and the chapters, including the publishing of a 614-page history of the society; History of the Mississippi State Society Daughters of the American Revolution 1896 – 1996.
The State Society has continued to grow since 1896. Today 70 chapters throughout the “Magnolia State” strive to achieve the historic and patriotic goals of our National Society. Mississippi Daughters will continue this work in the coming years.