Subfonds 6 - Margaret Gage Burkholder Chapter records

This chapter was named after Margaret Gage (Mrs. Harry F.) Burkholder (1869-1927) and grew out of a group of girls who were sewing for the soldiers. Mrs. Burkholder brought them together as a chapter. According to The Hamilton Spectator: “When the Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire was first conceived, in 1901, Mrs. Burkholder was one of the first members of the Municipal chapter of Hamilton. In 1906 she organized St. Cecelia chapter, now one of the most active chapters of the order in Hamilton. She was regent of this chapter from its organization until 1918, when, at her resignation, she was presented with the jeweled badge of the order. At the formation of the Provincial Chapter of Ontario, Mrs. Burkholder had the honor of being unanimously chosen its first president, an office which she held until her death…Mrs. Burkholder had been a member of the National executive for 12 years and, at the time of her death, was first vice-president of the National chapter" (Oct. 22, 1927). The chapter's motto was "Duty First." The Margaret Gage Burholder Chapter was disbanded in 1977.