About

Santa Barbara Presidio Chapel Photo courtesy of Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation

CDA Santa Barbara Chapter History:

In May of 2015, nine members of Chapter XX, Colonial Dames of America, signed a petition asking to form a new chapter in Santa Barbara, with Kathi Chulick as Organizing President and Judy Cardinal as Organizing Registrar. They were joined by Joy Chamberlain, Katherine Collins, Mary Cuthbert, Marie-Louise Hattier, Maxine Hobbs, Ruth Loper and Signe Wilson. The petition was submitted to the Executive Director of the CDA. By June, their first meeting was held to compile a list of qualified prospective members.

Having won a unanimous approval by the Parent Chapter, the nine members held a Prospective Member Tea in January of 2016 at the home of Kathi Chulick in Montecito. Society officers Brantley Knowles and Charlotte Christian were in attendance. Following the tea, selected prospectives were invited to begin the membership approval process.

By March of 2016, President General Sharon Vaino and her husband visited the Organizing Chapter at a luncheon held at the Valley Club of Montecito. In July of 2016, Organizing Chapter XXXVIII held its first BOCM meeting where officers were elected. Following the meeting, Petitioners and Prospectives attended a Garden Party with family members and friends. On September 17, 2016, a Chartering Meeting was held at the Valley Club in Montecito. Special guests included President Susan T’rau Johnson and Vice President Sharon Garrison of the San Francisco Chapter and Dorothy Peterson of the Los Angeles Chapter. Chapter XXXVIII Colonial Dames of America was now established.

CDA Santa Barbara Chapter Project, Preservation and Education

In 2017, the Santa Barbara Chapter lead by then President Kathi Chulick immediately recognized the significance of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation as their chapter project.The organization, established in 1963 sought to capture the rich story in its city center by preservation, restoration, reconstruction and interpretation of its historically significant buildings,documents and artifacts dating back to 1782 and extending to the present day. The first western structure in this area populated by Chumash Native-Americans was the very large Presidio or military fortress, followed by other homes and businesses housing immigrants from Spain, Mexico, America and countries worldwide. The Trust established this site with its many buildings (including the 2 nd oldest building in California), as a platform to educate not only the community of Santa Barbara but visitors from all over the world about the intricate layers of this area’s history and culture. Some of the highlights are understanding the Chumash Native-American, Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese and American peoples who have lived here and thrived in these same buildings to the present day.

The Santa Barbara Chapter has supported the SBTHP financially through membership, in serving on its committees, in docent participation, in volunteering in its community educational outreach projects and scanning documents and historic photographs into their permanent
electronic records.