The Kansas Chapel
Over thirty DAR state societies maintain a state or period room at National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Kansas Room began as a committee room in the basement of the Administration Building as early as 1936. When the room was relocated to the third floor in 1947 it assumed the dual use of a storage room and a prayer room for the Chaplain General.
Roberta Cooke Kilbourne, Kansas State Regent from 1959-1962, chose the refurbishing of the Kansas Room as her State Regent’s project. Mrs. Kilbourne had seen the beautiful Sargent Chapel at the Central Congregational Church in Topeka and believed that a reduced-scale replica would make a room beautiful. The Kansas Chapel was dedicated on Palm Sunday 1962 at a cost of more than $8,500. All funds were raised by the time of the dedication.
The sunflower windows, brilliant images of the Kansas state flower, were assembled from twelve stained-glass panels removed during the 1967 remodeling of the Carnegie Library in Wichita, Kansas. They were dedicated at the 76th Continental Congress on April 22, 1967.
Kansas’ new room at NSDAR Headquarters saw varied usage: a vespers meditation hour was held each year during Continental Congress; the NSDAR Executive Board often met in the chapel before sessions, and employees frequently began their workday there with a time of quiet and reflection.
As the years passed and space demands at the National Society increased it became evident that a new location was needed. In 2003, the Kansas Chapel was relocated to an area of the building called Stone Hall.
In 2011, thanks to generous donations from Kansas Daughters, Mary Frisch, Kansas State Regent; Patricia Carpenter, Registrar General; Kristi Kocher, State Chaplain; and Glenda Torkelson, Past State Chaplain, procured a beautiful Nativity set woven from golden Kansas wheat. Kansan Donna Morgenstern spent five years creating this incredible scene which now totals fourteen pieces. The Nativity is currently displayed in front of the Chapel altar each year during the Advent and Christmas season, inspiring all who see it with its simple message of peace, joy, and hope.
In 2015 the chapel was refurbished with new carpeting and a redesign of the altar was made.
In 2018 the entrance to the Kansas Chapel through the DAR Museum gallery was permanently closed due to renovations for the President General’s Project. A dedicated entrance to the Kansas Chapel was created in the north hallway of the Administration Building.
Kathryn West, Kansas State Regent from 2016-2019, and Denise Bullock, Kansas State Chaplain, visited the chapel to determine the best layout of the space considering the new entrance now placed visitors at the rear of the altar table. Together they sketched out plans for new furniture and a new stained-glass piece as the orientation of the chapel needed to shift 180 degrees. Mrs. Bullock developed criteria for the selection of Kansas artisans for the furniture and stained-glass work. Nearly $35,000 was raised from generous donors.
Bob Rummer of Lawrence, Kansas, was selected to craft the new altar and narthex tables. His workshop contained many tools that his great grandfather used for furniture making in Germany. After meeting with Mr. Rummer and seeing that his concepts for these pieces tied into the surrounding architecture and grand staircase, a third piece, the memorial book table, was also commissioned. Mr. Rummer took great care in documenting his process and acquisitions of Kansas black walnut that had been chosen for the project. Mr. Rummer noted that a felled black walnut tree on his property was used. It was well over 100 years old. It is suspected that the pioneer who homesteaded that piece of property in 1854, a carpenter and cabinet maker, likely planted the very tree that was used for the chapel tables. Particular attention was paid to the candles that are nestled beneath hurricane glass lanterns on the altar table. The pewter crosses embedded in the candles are a product of ASL Pewter, Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, and were crafted from molds used during George Washington’s time.
Don Bearden of Creative Stained Glass interpreted the iconic Arnold Friberg’s Prayer at Valley Forge painting and created a stunning stained-glass piece for the wall that now separates the Kansas Chapel from the DAR Museum. It is backlit and encased in a black walnut shadow box frame. The black walnut surrounding the stained-glass piece is from the same tree that Mr. Rummer used for the tables. Mr. Bearden began his study of stained glass as a young apprentice in 1974 in West Germany, studying under a master of the craft.
Perseverance was rewarded with the recovery of a copy of a photograph of Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell Guernsey, President General 1917-1920, hidden away for years which now hangs in the narthex to welcome all who enter. A digital image was provided to Debra Bates-Lamborn of Leavenworth, Kansas, a new member of DAR, who skillfully enhanced the photo and framed it. Finishing touches in the narthex include candlesticks and a reflection card holder. New flags were also added.
The Kansas Delegation to the 128th Continental Congress rededicated the Kansas Chapel on June 26, 2019. The President General, Ann Turner Dillon, joined State Regent Kathryn West, State Chaplain Denise Bullock, and State Chaplain-Elect Retha Blecha in the rededication witnessed by the National Executive Officers and Kansas Daughters. It is our hope that the Executive Officers in each NSDAR Administration will regularly make use of the Kansas Chapel. It encourages the hearts of Kansas Daughters to provide a place of inspiration, solace and rest for our hard working officers and staff as well as visitors to our House Beautiful.
The Kansas Chapel, a place for reflection, prayer, and meditation, tied with material possessions from Kansas, is for all Daughters, staff, and visitors to use. May all who use it find comfort and peace.
“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!” Psalm 84
We hope you will visit our chapel whenever you visit NSDAR Headquarters buildings in Washington, D.C.
Photos Courtesy of KSDAR Members
