North Shore Chapter enjoys an afternoon of Churchill
North Shore Chapter's book group continues with much success, inviting Daughters to delve into the pleasure of a good book. For our patriotic bibliophiles, the gatherings are always fun, even if one hasn't managed to read all of any particular book. For some - it is a perfect way to catch up with friends or meet newer Daughters over refreshments, for others - it is a chance to discuss the book selection, and for most - it is at least a preview in delightful company! The book choices are a reflection of Daughters' interests in the history, genealogy and good reads.
February's book selection featured a book on Sir Winston Churchill's mother, American Jennie: The Remarkable Life of Lady Randolph Churchill by Anne Sebba . This book choice was particularly timely given the recent movie releases of "Dunkirk" and "Darkest Hour". Moreover, throughout his life, Churchill had a special relationship with the United States. His mother, Jennie Jerome, was born in Brooklyn, making Churchill half American and of notable lineage dating to the Revolutionary War.
Commented author Anne Sebba: "Winston always believed in the importance of ancestors and the need to respect the bloodline. He never missed an opportunity to recall with pride that the Jeromes were rooted for many generations in American soil and fought in Washington's Army for the independence of American colonies and the foundation of the United States. 'I expect that I was on both sides then and I must say I fall on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean now,' he maintained. He was referring to the fact that he had at least two forbears who fought against British in the American War of Independence: one great-grandfather, Samuel Jerome, served in the Berkshire Country Militia, while another, Major Libbeus Ball of the 4th Massachusetts Regiment, marched and fought with George Washington's army at Valley Forge. Furthermore, Leonard Jerome's maternal grandfather, Reuben Murray, served as a lieutenant in the Connecticut and New York regiments."
Attendees were also invited to enjoy an exclusive presentation on Sir Winston's passion for painting along with a unique opportunity to view paintings by the British statesman Winston Churchill, one of the most renowned wartime leaders of the twentieth century. Members were able to view the largest single private-holding of Churchill oils, a curated collection surveying the full range of his art, from landscapes and seascapes to still lifes and portraits. Beginning with his earlier work in 1919, these paintings represent each of the five decades in which Churchill pursued what was for him the greatest of hobbies. A highlight and of particular provenance, one of the works was a gift to one Nobel Prize winner (General George C. Marshall) from another (Churchill won for Literature, while Marshall won his for Peace).
North Shore Chapter's April book selection will be John Quincy Adams: Militant Spirit by James Traub. Lake Forest Book Store (662 N. Western Avenue, Lake Forest - (847) 234-4420) graciously continues to offer a price accommodation of 15% discount for the April book selection with the mention of North Shore Chapter.
North Shore Chapter, Lake Forest, IL (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution) was founded in 1893 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. To learn more about DAR, visit www.dar.org.