Ella Park Lawrence

Ella Park Lawrence (May 13, 1857 – March 17, 1924) was an avid advocate for, and is still known today as the “mother” of the Illinois State Flag. She was the Regent of the Rebecca Park chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), State Regent of the DAR organizations in Illinois, as well as a known leader and philanthropist of her community, Galesburg, Illinois.

Early life and family Ella Louise Park was born May 13, 1857, to father George S. Park and Mary Louise Holmes Park. Many of her family members have been notable throughout history. Ancestors of Lawrence came to America in 1639 and eight of her ancestors had fought in the Revolutionary War. During the Civil War, her father ran an abolitionist newspaper, and was also the founder of Park College, and the town Parkville in Platte County, Missouri, where Lawrence was born. Lawrence was said to have been a good student, winning numerous literary awards and was a prominent member of the college’s literary society. During her time at Knox College, she met her husband, George A Lawrence, who also was a prominent figure in the Galesburg Community, as well as an attorney, and they got married October 18, 1882.

Together, the Lawrences had five children, unfortunately four of them died young. Their third child, Ella Rebecca Lawrence, who married John Marshall Lowrie in 1916 and became Ella Rebecca Lowrie, lived to be 84, and throughout her life was known as a scholar, attending Vassar College in 1913 and later receiving her M.A. in history from Radcliffe College. Throughout her life she had many positions, being a teacher at Knox College, a book reviewer for Harper Brothers (now Harper and Row), and an author of a few books herself.

Illinois state flag involvement Though Lawrence herself did not design the Illinois state flag, she did have a large part in the establishment of the flag and advocating for its creation. This advocacy began with her participation in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and later her time as State Regent, and honorary Regent, of the DAR organizations in Illinois.

Daughters of the American Revolution Lawrence helped organize the Rebecca Gibson Parke chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which was named after Lawrence’s ancestor, Rebecca Gibson Parke, who was a child living in Lexington, Massachusetts, when the Revolutionary War began. This chapter was officially established in 1901, and by 1911 Lawrence was elected State Regent of the DAR organizations in Illinois.

Philanthropy and community involvement Lawrence held many roles throughout her life, being a member of the Presbyterian Church of Galesburg, for years the President of the society of her church, a charter member of the Board of Trustees of Park College, and an officer in numerous philanthropic and charitable institutions, especially those that were interested in the welfare of women and children.