More than 100 family members of all ages attended the 48th biennial DFA reunion in Granville, Ohio on August 1-7, 2004. Activities included the board meeting, general membership meeting, and committee meetings. Highlights of the week were the interesting and entertaining family research presentations, the family talent show, and several tours to area sites. The reunion location in Granville, was Denison University, a private liberal arts college similar to Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. The University boasts several buildings with the "Doane" name in honor of the William Howard Doane family of Ohio, college benefactors. W.H. Doane was a businessman, but was perhaps best known as a hymn composer. Many favorite hymns, penned by him, were part of a reunion hymn sing.
Doane Family Association of America, Inc., 47th Biennial Reunion
The Doane Family Association of America, Inc., met for their 47th biennial reunion, August 11-17, 2002. Approximately 140 people from the United States, Canada, and England gathered at George School in Newtown, Pennsylvania, for a week of business meetings, field trips, and socializing.
George School, a Quaker boarding school for grades 9-12, is situated on property once owned by family descendant, Daniel Doan. A highlight of the week, was the rededication of a stone marker commemorating Daniel Doan. The marker was moved to George School property from its former location at a busy intersection in Newtown.
Another activity was retracing the paths of the notorious Doan Outlaws who resided in Bucks County in the 1700s. Chartered motor coaches took family members to sites robbed and pillaged by five Doan brothers and a cousin. The group visited crime scenes, climbed into a cave where the outlaws hid from the law, and saw their homes, graves, place of worship, as well as shoot-out and hideout sites. Local historian Terry McNealy, who is currently writing a book on the Doan Outlaws, gave a presentation on the Outlaws, prior to the field trip.
Optional field trips were offered during the week to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Gettysburg.
Chairing the event was Katherine K. Blair, Sterling, Va., family historian, assisted by other national Doane Family Association members.
Richard E. Doane, Tempe, Ariz., was selected to serve as president of the Doane Family Association, with Erma Phillips, San Jacinto, Calif., named immediate past president. Other officers included: Eunice Brabec, South San Francisco, Calif., membership; Mary Ann Doane-Sindt, Three Rivers, Mich., recording secretary; Barbara Doane, Westfield, N.J., treasurer; and Raymond Doane, Milan, Ind., chaplain.
The Association plans to meet the summer of 2004 at Dennison University, Granville, Ohio. This institution has strong ties to the Doane family through the late William Howard Doane, a musician.