Mary A. Drake *- Fort Worth

Mrs. Mary A. Drake joined the Daughters of Isabella Court Louise #209, Fort Worth, as a charter member June 22, 1913. Forty-eight women were charter members from thirteen different parishes. This was the fifth (5th) local court in Texas. The state of Texas was now eligible to form a state court. Mary served her local court as Grand Regent using rare good judgment in the discharge of her duties.

After four years of prayer and planning, and with seven more local courts, the Catholic women of Texas, as the Daughters of Isabella Herald wrote it February 1917, “stepped forward in the march of progress among Catholic women at the first State Convention of the National Order of the Daughters of Isabella held on January 25, 1917 in the beautiful city of Houston” to elect Mrs. Mary A. Drake the first State Regent of Texas.

“Our first venture into the new and untrodden fields of labor, opened up to us by having a State Court, will always stand out pre-eminently in our minds. Our newly elected State Officers are filled with their responsibilities and are overwhelmed with fears that, owing to the fact that we have no precedents to guide us, and our work being so new, we may make mistakes. We are consoled, however, by knowing that the Courts that elected us will be lenient with us, and that our actions will not be criticized in an unkindly manner. We rely upon the big, generous-hearted women of Texas to support us and overlook our shortcomings.

The field for work in Texas is large indeed, and we know our officers, as well as all the members of Texas, are determined that the work shall grow.”

Quote from the National Daughters of Isabella Herald, February, 1917: “It is gratifying to note the progress of our organization in our biggest state and to know the decidedly active, energetic work being done by our sincere and loyal Texas sisters. To our youngest State Court we extend felicitations and best wishes for success and happiness in the noble work of the Daughters of Isabella. To Mrs. Mary A. Drake of Fort Worth, the new State Regent, and associate officers, we offer congratulations and our best wishes for a successful administration.”