National Mary Washington Memorial Association

This organization, composed almost wholly of women and limited to 600 hereditary life members, received by gift the land that had been deeded to the Fredericksburg association and, with the active cooperation of the Daughters of the American Revolution, secured the money needed and built there a new monument and lodge, the title to which was vested in the President and the Chief Justice of the United States and the governor of Virginia, ex officio, as trustees.

In the next four years, the monument's base with its small Doric columns was completed and the obelisk was on the ground ready to be lifted into place when the work was suddenly abandoned.

[1] In June 1889, the NMWMA was organized in Washington, D.C. at the home of Amelia Champlin Warner Waite, wife of Chief Justice Morrison Waite, with attention being called to the state of the grave and monument of Washington's mother by the advertisement of a Fredericksburg, Virginia, auctioneer, who was to sell it to the highest bidder.

[6] At their first meeting, they appointed their officers: Amelia Waite, President, and Margaret Hetzel, whose dollar was the first in the National coffer, serving as a substantial support to her accompanying appeal to the Washington Post, suggesting that women should rear the long sought monument and that every woman able to do so should send US$1 toward it, The Post serving as treasurer.

Further action was unexpectedly suspended on account of the "Johnstown Flood" during the month of June when the sympathies of the whole country were aroused on behalf of its sufferers.

[6] The first meeting of the National Association, after incorporation, was held in the Green Room of the White House on May 13, 1891,[4] It was attended by some of the most distinguished women at the capital.

Hereditary life memberships in the National Society, on the payment of US$25, were suggested by Mrs. Roger A. Pryor, of Virginia, and until February 1896, such members would be welcomed.

[1] Mrs. James H. Thompson, the secretary of the Fredericksburg association, wrote: "We shall spare no effort to secure an enduring monument as beautiful as art can make.

The city of Fredericksburg will make it the center of a public square, with wide avenues of approach, so that the American people may come and see that republics are not ungrateful.

[7] In February 1891, all rights of the former were formally ceded to the National Association, including Washington's grave, the three adjoining lots, and US$1,000 toward the monument fund.

[5] This Association being organized for perpetuity, these Life Members, and their successors by inheritance, were privileged to aid in caring for the protection and preservation of the grave and monument of the mother of Washington for all future time.

These medals are as an inheritance to descend from mother to daughter or granddaughter, and so on in the direct female line, or failing these, by will or deed, and entitle the inheritor to a vote at all meetings of the Association.

[3] In March 1894, the secretary of the NMWMA sent out an appeal to the Chapters of the DAR throughout the country, asking for aid in completing their work with the creation of an endowment.