Crown Colony chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century celebrates its 50th anniversary

The Crown Colony chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century commemorated its 50th anniversary May 9 at the Rancho Santa Fe home of member Amy D’Lima. The organization's State President Joan Bogaty attended the event and gave a presentation on the activities at the state and national level of the organization. First Vice President Carrie Beinert, whose mother was one of the early members, gave a history of the Crown Colony chapter. Artifacts from the past 50 years were displayed, and crown pins engraved with the annotation of the commemoration of the anniversary were given to all members present. Three proclamations were received from local government officials, Congressman Darrell Issa, Congressman Scott Peters, and the Mayor of Coronado, where the chapter was founded.

The purpose of Colonial Dames XVII Century is to aid in the establishment of a College of Heraldry and the founding of chairs of historical research in universities and colleges. The further purpose is to preserve historical sites and records, promote heraldry, and support education through activities at the local, state, and national levels. Colonial Dames is one of the few societies which has heraldry as an objective, encouraging members to research and register their ancestral coats of arms with at the national collection located at the headquarters in Washington, D.C. This is one of the largest collections of Coats of Arms in the United States. For further information on the organization and for interest in joining, visit http://www.californiacdxviic.org or www.colonialdames17c.org. — News release

This story originally appeared in Rancho Santa Fe Review .