Kathryn Slaughter Wittichen

Kathryn Elizabeth Slaughter Wittichen (January 8, 1896 – June 22, 1985) was an American socialite and clubwoman. She was a leader in various women's organizations, serving as president of the Miami Women's Club from 1938 to 1939 and as president general of the United Daughters of the Confederacy from 1957 to 1960. In 1962, Wittichen founded the Southern Dames of America.

Kathryn Slaughter Wittichen
Honorary President of the Southern Dames of America
In office 1962–1963
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Doris Walker Lyle (as president)
President General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
In office 1957–1960
President of the Miami Women's Club
In office 1938–1939
Personal details
Born	Kathryn Elizabeth Slaughter (1896-01-08)January 8, 1896 Mississippi, U.S.
Died	June 22, 1985(1985-06-22) (aged 89) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Resting place	Greenwood Cemetery
Spouse	Murray Forbes Wittichen
Occupation	clubwoman, socialite

Biography

Wittichen was elected as the president of the Miami Women's Club in 1938.^[1] During her first year in office, the club's building was faced with foreclosure.^[2] Due to her efforts, the club secured it's permanent home in a five-story building.^[2]

She served as the president of the Florida Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy from 1952 to 1954.^[1] In 1954, she advocated for referring to the American Civil War as the "War Between the States" and falsely claimed that the Confederate States of America was a separate nation from the United States instead of an unrecognized breakaway within the Union.^[3] In 1957, she was elected as President General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and served in that capacity until 1960.^[4][1] Shortly after her election, the United Daughters of the Confederacy were faced with a $30,000 deficit on their new headquarters, the Memorial to the Women of the Confederacy.^[2] Wittichen called the society's executive committee together for emergency action and asked every member of the UDC to contribute $1.00 towards paying off the deficit.^[2] The new headquarters was paid off in 1958.^[2]

Wittichen was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, the Daughters of Colonial Wars, and the Order of the First Families of Virginia.^[1]

She lived in Coral Gables, Florida.^[5] She and her husband, Murray Forbes Wittichen, were charter members of the Historical Association of Southern Florida.^[6]