Steen receives award from James Stewart Chapter for historical donation

1. (Franklin, GA) — On Thursday, June 13th, Dorothy Lipham Steen and her daughter and grandson made a special trip from her home in Tennessee to Heard County to personally donate her father’s World War I gas mask and its carry bag to the museum.

Dorothy Steen holds her father’s gas mask from WWI (Photo: Pamela Lyle)

Members of the Lipham family, the James Stewart Chapter, NSDAR, and the Historical Society met at the museum for the presentation.

Dorothy’s father was Amos Dovard Lipham and he brought home several artifacts from his service in WWI. Among them was the gas mask that he was given to wear.

Dorothy had the original bag that contained the gas mask, the can that contained the air, and the cleaner canister as well as the mask itself. Dorothy shared the stories her father told her about the mask and how it was used. She then presented it to Sharon Frost and Cheryl Pollard, Museum Coordinators.

Dorothy’s generosity did not stop there. She also loaned the museum three additional artifacts to be displayed in the World War I exhibit—her father’s complete mess kit, a hand carved artillery shell, and a child’s wooden shoe. She shared the stories her father told her about each item and donated some poppies to go with the display.

Dorothy Steen is a past Chapter Regent, Robert Cooke Chapter, NSDAR, in Tennessee. She currently serves as Chapter First Vice Regent.

The James Stewart Chapter Regent, Pamela Lyle presented Dorothy a Certificate of Appreciation for her wonderful donation to the Heard County Historical Center and Museum.

Her presentation will allow this wonderful artifact to be preserved for future generations to enjoy, preserving this piece of history forever.

Preserving our nation’s history is one of the primary goals of the NSDAR. Learn more about your history by joining the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Please contact jamesstewartchapterdar@gmail.com for upcoming meetings and information on membership. (Written by Carla Brown)