History
On December 11, 1931, a Charter was issued by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants for the formation of a Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Minnesota. The organizing meeting was convened on March 9, 1932, at the Minnesota Club in St. Paul by George Perkins Douglas, who was elected first Governor.
In the first years of the Minnesota Society, the membership was largely composed of the socially prominent and wealthy industrial and political families of the area. In fact, in the early years, the meetings of the Board of Assistants were hosted by the Governor at his own expense with luncheon meetings at various country clubs in the Twin Cities. The Annual Meetings were formal balls or “black tie” dinners. These factors tended to discourage the economic middle class until the end of World War II, when membership began to grow.
Today, the Minnesota Society has lost all class consciousness and formality has given way to fellowship of people aspiring to learn more about the Pilgrims and to educate others about the beliefs and goals of their Pilgrim ancestors.
First Slate of Officers:
Governor—Mr. George Perkins Douglas
Deputy Governor—Mr. Roger B. Shepard
Secretary—Mrs. Georgiana (Partridge) Noble
Treasurer—Mr. Carl R. Gray, Jr.
Historian—Mrs. Jennie A. (Holmes) Coolidge
Charter Members:
Mr. George Perkins Douglas
Mrs. Adelaide (Craig) Snyder
Mr. Roger B. Shepard
Mrs. Helen (Felt) Daniel
Mrs. Georgiana (Partridge) Noble
Miss Alice E. Perry
Mrs. Charlotte (Partridge) Ordway
Mr. Joseph H. Grant
Mr. Carl R. Gray
Mrs. Harry G. Fales
Mrs. Jennie A. (Holmes) Coolidge
Mrs. Mary (Daniel) Benedict
Mr. Frank L. Jennings
Mr. George H. Partridge
Mr. Maurice M. Moore
Miss Minerva L. Dickey
Mrs. Amanda (Cooley) Holbrook
Mrs. Mary Ellen (Bingham)
Knight
Mr. Herbert S. Lamerton
Mrs. Mary (Bull) Crocker
Mr. Homer P. Clark
Mrs. Dorothy M. (Hopkins) Quigley
Mrs. Eleanor (Field) Pillsbury
Mrs. Anna (McMillan) Shepard
Mrs. Katherine (McMillan) Beals
Mr. Samuel Shepherd
Mrs. Grace (Clark) Curry
Mr. Bertram Adams
Mrs. Winifred (Lewis) Putnam
Mr. Richard K. Smith
Mrs. Fannie Eliza (Colburn) Fernald
Mrs. Esther G. (Northrup) Becker
[The history of the Minnesota Society was prepared by Mrs. Marjorie B. Doty, Governor of Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Minnesota 1995-1997.]
MINNESOTA SOCIETY – PAST GOVERNORS
George Perkins Douglas * 1932-1933
Carl Raymond Gray Jr. * 1933-1940
Clarence A. Cushman * 1940-1945
Mrs. Levi A. Pease * 1945-1946
Albert Harlan Parsons Houser * 1946-1949
John G. Ballord * 1949-1951
Warren A. Breckenridge * 1951-1953
Rev. Hayden A. Stright * 1953-1955
James A. Galbraith * 1955-1957
Dr. Rae T. LaVake * 1957-1959
Charles F. Alden * 1959-1962
F. Harvey Sturtevant * 1962-1963
Paul W. Latham * 1963-1965
Wright W. Brooks * 1965-1967
Henry F. Dever * 1967-1969
Harmon W. Ruliffson * 1969-1971
Evan M. Day * 1971-1973
Ezra Benhan Curry * 1973-1975
Robert V. Tarbox * 1975-1977
Clifford L. Jewett * 1977-1979
Mrs. Royce B. Hanson * 1979-1981
W. Herbert Doty 1981-1983
Robert B. Mirick * 1983-1985
Ross T. Dunlop 1985-1987
Richard L. Husband * 1987-1989
Mrs. Clifford H. (Janet) Tornstrom * 1989-1991
Mrs. Jay Dee (Joan) Yearous 1991-1993
Edwin N. Sheperd 1993-1995
Marjorie B. Doty * 1995-1997
Ora M. Norton* 1997-1999
Ruth J. Lofgren * 1999-200
2
Marjorie E. Heggestad 2002-2005
Lorraine Van Patten Link 2005-2008
Lorraine Van Patten Link 2008-2011
Kenneth A. Veness 2011-2014
* The asterisk denotes deceased Governors
