History of the Organization

·        1886 – King’s Daughters was established as an international organization based in New York City.  IOKDS stands for The International Order of King’s Daughters and Sons.  Small groups called “circles” were organized as far west as Missouri.

·        September 1888 – The What-So-Ever Circle was formed in Mexico, Missouri.

·        1890’s – The Founder, Mrs. Margaret Bottome visited St. Louis where many Circles were giving free ice and sick diet service along with conducting baby clinics and day nurseries. This trip provided the inspiration to organize our state Branch of the IOKDS.

·        April 1897 – The Missouri Branch was organized in Kansas City at the Independence Avenue Methodist Church.

·        1898 – The Home in Mexico was incorporated.

·        November 1905 – The home was formally dedicated with a matron, a nurse and a cook employed to care for 10 ladies.

·        1915 – The Kate Thompson Circle was the first organized circle in Columbia, Missouri.

·        1941 – A 50-year citation was awarded to Mrs. P. D. Prather of Columbia, Missouri (She was one of the earliest members in the state; her descendants are still involved in King’s Daughters)

·        October 23, 1945 – The Council Of The Union of The King’s Daughters and Sons of Columbia was organized at the home of Mrs. Arthur S. Emig, Branch President.  This is later referred to as City Union.

·        December, 1945 – The Mary Marshall Gordo Circle donated an incubator to Boone Hospital.

·        1975 – Dental Aid was founded by the Dorothy McArthur Circle.

·        1979 – Dental Aid became a Columbia City Union project. A flea market at the Armory was the main fundraiser.

·        1990 – The King’s Daughters Holiday festival was started as our main fundraiser for Dental Aid and the Home. It was initially held at the West Junior High gymnasium with 28 or so booths; half of these were filled by the circles selling craft items, baked goods, and the like.  The festival grew with more local merchant involvement.

·        1996 – The Festival moved to the Holiday Inn Expo Center to allow for the growing number of vendors.  Over 100 vendors now participate.

·        The Columbia City Union is currently the governing body to 23 circles in Columbia.  Columbia has the largest number of circles in the organization--followed by Memphis, TN and Moline, IL each with 20 circles.