May 25, 2013

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DRT Library to Close Temporarily for Inventory Completion

January 13, 2013

The DRT Library at the Alamo is nearing completion of the final phase of inventory and will be closed temporarily beginning Monday, January 14, 2013. The inventory is a joint project of the Texas General Land Office and The Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Although the inventory will result in a temporary closure of the library, the result will be one of the most comprehensive catalogs of Texas history in the State. We look forward to re-opening the DRT Library at the Alamo following the inventory. For more information go to the DRT Library web site.

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DRT Purchases Franzetti Property

December 22, 2012

On December 19, 2012, DRT President General Karen Thompson, assisted by the “Vision” attorney Dan Nelson, signs the documents for DRT, Inc. to purchase the Franzetti property adjacent to the French Legation in Austin. This purchase is a major milestone for the Daughters’ efforts to construct The Republic Village. When completed, The Republic Village will be the location for The Daughters of the Republic of Texas headquarters, museum and research center. Attending the signing are (L to R) Betty Bird, Pat Horridge, Nancy Shurtleff, Ellen McCaffrey and John Ellen Becker.

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New Web Site for Republic Village

October 28, 2012

New Web Site for The Republic Village is Now Online!

The Republic Village, when completed, will be the location for The Daughters of the Republic of Texas headquarters, museum and research center. The Republic Village web site, created by The Rivas Group of Austin, provides an easy format for Daughters and other sponsors to securely submit donations to:

  • Purchase an engraved individual, chapter or corporate brick paver that will be part of the sidewalks throughout the Village.
  • Purchase naming rights for the Republic Village buildings and areas.
  • Make secure donations of any amount to support the Republic Village.
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Travis Letter

October 28, 2012

 

 

Patterson now working to raise $100,000 for once-in-a-lifetime display

Contact: Mark Loeffler
512-463-1945
mark.loeffler@glo.texas.gov

PRESS RELEASE from TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE — Oct 24, 2012

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission voted today to allow the return of Col. Travis’ “Victory or Death” letter to the Alamo in March for the 177th Anniversary of its writing. Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, custodian of the Shrine of Texas Liberty, made the request for the historic return.

This is the first time the letter has been at the Alamo since it was written there on February 24, 1836 at the beginning of the famous siege and battle. Col. William Barrett Travis wrote the letter in desperation as the Mexican tyrant Santa Anna’s troops laid siege. His letter – now the crown jewel of Texas history – drew the nation’s attention to the plight the Texians heroic last stand at the Alamo.

“I am honored to be entrusted with the display of this Texas treasure,” Patterson said. “Travis’ ‘Victory or Death‘ letter is one of the great, defining documents of American history and will inspire countless Texans who take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see it for themselves.”

Patterson is now working to raise $100,000 in private donations to pay for transportation and security expenses to display the letter.

“The question all Texans will be asking next spring is: Have you seen The Letter?” said Patterson. “We welcome the world to the Alamo to share in this moment in history.”

For more information on the Alamo, please visit the Texas General Land Office website at glo.texas.gov or the Official Alamo website at thealamo.org.

 

 

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The Daughters – A Dozen Decades of DRT

June 6, 2012

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas is pleased to announce the upcoming release of a new book: The Daughters: A Dozen Decades of DRT which celebrates 121 years of our history. This volume will be 10” x 10”, 304 pages of informative text with nearly 450 photographs, many never before published. It is due to release May 2013. The editor is Gaylon Finklea Hecker of the William Barret Travis Chapter located in Austin, Texas.

You have the opportunity to pre-order the book by completing the order form by click on this link: The Daughters: A Dozen Decades of DRT Order Form

For additional questions, please contact: Kathy Howell, 11330 Old 2243 West, Leander, TX 78641 at 512-923-4111 or katrkc@austin.rr.com. For further information, go to the website: www.dozendecades.com.

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Battle of Flowers Parade

May 5, 2012

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) President General, Karen Thompson, and Dr. Sharon Skrobarcek, President of the Alamo Mission Chapter participated in the Battle of Flowers Parade part of Fiesta® San Antonio on Friday, April 27, in San Antonio, Texas. They rode in a horse (“Jake”) drawn carriage decorated with flowers as the route made its way to the Alamo. An estimated crowd of over 350,000 lined the streets of downtown San Antonio to enjoy colorful floats and pagentry in the Battle of Flowers Parade.

The Battle of Flowers Parade was first conceived early in 1891 as a way to remember the memory of the fallen heroes at the Alamo and to commemorate the victory at the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, where Texas had gained its independence from Mexico. The year 1891 also holds a special significance to DRT. The organization was founded in 1891. DRT has participated in the Battle of Flowers Parade since 1925.

 

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Mission Olives Come Back to The Alamo

April 30, 2012
Trees on 1760s Spanish Inventory List from Mission de Valero
 
Olive trees have been a staple for millennia in European countries that settled the Americas. The tree possess an almost titanic resistance, a vital force which renders it nearly immortal. Despite harsh winters and burning summers, they continue to grow, proud and strong reaching towards the sky, bearing fruit which produces oil that nourishes and heals the body. This made the olive ideal for new colonies in the northern frontiers of Spanish Texas.
 
According to Spanish Archives, olive trees appeared on Inventory Lists from the 1760s of the San Antonio Franciscan Missions. This included the first one transferred and built in this region; Mission de Valero, later known as The Alamo. In fact, the type of olive that became so prevalent at Spanish Missions from Texas to California, is now referred to as the “Mission Olive”, hence its name. But after Valero was secularized in 1793, the olive trees vanished.
 
Then in 1914, fruit bearing olive trees were again brought to South Texas by land developer Asher Richardson, who planted them at his Bel-Asher mansion in Asherton, deep in the Wintergarden. Amazingly those trees survive to this day, and were in part the inspiration for Texas olive pioneers Sandy Winokur, Jim Henry and others to plant olives on their farms south of San Antonio. Olives can grow in Texas, and produce some of the best extra-virgin olive oil on the planet.
 
To recognize Mission de Valero’s (The Alamo) inclusion with the four other San Antonio Franciscan Missions into nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sandy Winokur (Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard) has donated three Spanish and Mission olive trees to be planted at The Alamo on April 18 at 1:00pm. Blessed and consecrated in a traditional manner by a Franciscan Priest, the planting ceremony will mark a historic return of Olive Trees to this old Spanish Mission.
 
“Olive trees were an integral part of everyday life in the Spanish Texas Missions”, said Karen Thompson, President General of The Daughters of The Republic of Texas (“DRT”). “The oil was used for cooking and religious ceremonies, just as it is today in Mexico. We are delighted to have the trees return to The Alamo.”
 
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The French Legation Museum presents “Evening Under the Oaks” with Gina Chavez!

April 21, 2012

The French Legation Museum is happy to continue the Evening Under the Oaks Fundraising Concert Series with Gina Chavez on Friday, April 27, 2012! Celebrated locally, Chavez has also received national attention, and National Public Radio hailed Chavez as one of eight “New Latin Artists at SXSW,” calling her music a “perfect mix of Latin, folk and blue grass.” Proceeds from the concert benefit the Museum, so come check out Gina and join us as we support local music and local history! For more information click on this link:  ”Evening Under the Oaks“

The French Legation stands today as the oldest home in Austin, and was built by Alphonse Dubois in 1841 to serve as a diplomatic outpost for Louis Philippe, King of the French, to the Republic of Texas. For more information about the French Legation Museum, its programs and mission, please visit www.frenchlegationmuseum.org. The French Legation Museum promotes understanding and appreciation of Texas history and culture through preservation of the legacy, structure, and collections of the French Legation of the Republic of Texas.

The French Legation Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that stands as a reminder of life in the Republic of Texas era. The property is owned by the State of Texas, and The Daughters of the Republic of Texas are the custodians of the site. 

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DRT Past President General Patti Atkins named Citizen of the Year

March 15, 2012
2009-2011 President General Patti Atkins

2009-2011 President General Patti Atkins

DRT is proud to have one of their members, past President General (2009-2011), Mary Patricia “Patti” Atkins receive the “2011 Liberty County Citizen of the Year” award. Ms. Atkins is a member of the Franklin Hardin Chapter of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Ms. Atkins receive the award for her numerous contributions to many organizations including the Special Olympics, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the American Heart Association, Liberty County Historical Commission, East Liberty County Historical Society, and most recently the Tri-County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board. Patti Atkins has also been honored by the Federal Aviation Administration.

For more on this, please see the news article from Liberty County’s The Vindicator web site at this link.

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Texas Independence Celebration Event

February 20, 2012

The Sterling C. Robertson Chapter of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), invites everyone to celebrate Texas Independence on Thursday, March 1, 2012 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The event will be held in Knox Hall in The Official Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.

For more information, click on this link.

 

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