The James Haggard Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century was organized in Nacogdoches, Texas on November 15. 1958, with Hattie (Mrs. E. R.) Bates as the organizing President and Mrs. Everett Bowen as the Organizing State President. The object of the Chapter is to aid in the preservation of the records and historic shrines of the United States, to aid in the education of the youth of the United States, and to commemorate the noble and heroic deeds of American colonists who were ancestors of Chapter members. To become members, invited applicants must show proof of lineal descent from one or more ancestors who resided in an American Colony prior to 1701, and who performed civil or military services to the country. Monthly Chapter meetings were originally held on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. By the late 1960's, luncheon meetings were usually held on the first Tuesdays of September through May with certain Saturday meetings planned for members who were teachers. As a Chapter project in the 1960's, members donated genealogical books, magazines, and manuscripts to The East Texas Room of the S.F.A. Library. The Chapter also contributed to the book fund of the Colonial Dames XVII Century Library in Washington D.C. Other projects of the Chapter included presenting scholarships annually to outstanding history students at SFASU and awarding certificates of merit annually in May or June to three high school graduates who are selected on the basis of their character, scholarship, and interest in history. Annual Tours of Outstanding Homes and Historical Places were held during 1960-1970 to earn money for Chapter projects. In 1980, the James Haggard Chapter received Certificates of Recognition for its pledge to give