Dazzling Daughter

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Marian Argo​

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In 1924, Marian traveled with her parents throughout Europe and beyond; venturing to Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Palestine, Egypt, Algiers, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Sweden, Great Britain, and Norway.

In 1911, when her girls were young, Mary Argo joined the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Esther Reed Chapter in Spokane under Patriot James Westcott. Ten years later, at age 23, daughter Marian joined the chapter. Her sister Kate finally joined in 1948 and in 1951, Marian transferred to the Sacajawea Chapter in Olympia, 25 years after leaving Spokane.

In 1926, after her father’s health failed, Marian and her parents moved to Seattle. There Marian joined the Seattle Presbyterian Church, the Theta Delphi Pi of the Delphian Society, worked in the male-dominated sphere of wholesale credit managers and later added insurance sales. In 1928 she was elected First President of the Seattle Credit Women, a professional organization. She also served two and a half years as supervisor of the Securities Division.

Starting in 1929, Marian and her parents moved to Tenino and Marian worked with her father at the Tenino Hotel. She owned and managed the hotel for 35 years, remodeling much of it into apartments after the new freeway diverted traffic from the town.

From the 1930s onward, Marian was a community leader, active in many organizations as well as a prominent businesswoman. She worked in insurance sales and realty, owning her own business beginning in 1942, when she moved to Tumwater, through the 1960s. She attended conferences of various groups across the nation. Because of her avid reading and study, she was well informed and a requested public speaker. Over the years she spoke on topics as diverse as "Highways and Byways in a United World," "Credit and Finances," and drug abuse.

Marian was particularly active in the Business and Professional Women’s Club, joining in 1935. Serving in several local and state offices, she was then elected to the office of Washington State Federation President, then Western Regional Director over 11 western states, and on the national board. In 1948 she chaired a committee to study the feasibility of a Federation home for the aged for the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs.

The year of 1960 was particularly busy for Marian. She was elected President of the Selah Club and Regent of the Sacajawea Chapter, DAR. She served as both secretary and treasurer of the Olympia Board of Realtors and as well as a member of its board of directors. She was also elected as the first woman on the Tumwater City Council for a two-year term. She not only served but was wrongfully expelled for "not attending meetings," and then quickly reinstated! (Reputedly, extra meetings were strategically scheduled by “the boys” of the council, knowing full well that she was on a trip to Panama to visit her brother who worked in the Canal Zone for the federal government.) She faced this challenge without waver, even bringing her attorney to the hearing - and the problem disappeared. The resolution of her problem was ensured by the all-American free press and standing-room-only public attendance at the decisive meeting of the City Council.

Based on newspaper publications, here is a list of many of her other activities: Theta Delta Pi Chapter of the Delphian Society; Tenino Civic Club; Red Cross fundraising; Daughters of the Nile; Soroptimist Club, 1941-1966; United Good Neighbors; Zonta Club; USO, 1942; GOP Candidate for State Representative, 22nd District, Thurston County, 1948; First Vice President of the GOP women, 1954; Thurston County Tuberculosis Association board member, 1957-1960s.

Around 1953, Marian donated an 1848 hand-carved walnut bedroom set to the Olympia area Chapter #4, Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington (DPW), which they placed in the historic Crosby House. This bedroom set had been in the Argo family since 1853. The Chapter #4, DPW honored Marian and other donors at a 1960 Christmas Tea, the year that the City of Tumwater celebrated its 115th anniversary. It remains on display.

Marian Argo was very active in the DAR. Her offices included Sacajawea Chapter Vice Regent, 1958-1960; Sacajawea Chapter Regent, 1960-1962; and WSSDAR State Librarian, 1962-1964. While Vice Regent, she served as General Chairman for the 59th WSSDAR State Conference, held in Olympia. Chapter committees in which she served as chair for one or more years included: Good-Citizenship Award, Advertising, National Defense, Ways & Means, New Citizens, Constitution Week, Programs, and Americanism/Citizenship Manuals. She served as Meeting Hostess at least once per year. Only in the year of her death did she not volunteer both as a meeting hostess and as a chairman of one or more committees. During her tenure as Regent, Marian was pictured in the newspaper with the Good Citizen Award, a book donation to Supreme Court Justice Matthew W. Hill for support of Good Citizen, a transfer of artifacts to the State Museum, and the acceptance of the Liberty Ship SS Sacajawea Plaque from the federal government.

Written by Shirley A. Stirling in 2019 as a Dazzling Daughter biography for the Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington State Society.

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