The organization did more than any other agency toward the collection and preservation of historical data of Williamson County than any other in those times. They were among the first to raise interest in the then upcoming 100th anniversary of the county in 1939.
That call was finally heeded when the organization of the Pioneer Sons of Williamson County started coming together to assist the Pioneer Daughters in preparation for the 1939 Centennial.
On November 28, 1938, a committee from each of the two organizations, the Pioneer Daughters and the Pioneer Sons, met at the Marion Carnegie Library to discuss plans for the proper observance of the centennial of Williamson County. A joint committee was formed known as the Williamson County Centennial Committee.
On April 17, 1939, the name of this committee was changed to the “Williamson County Centennial Association” and incorporated under the laws of Illinois as a “Not for Profit” corporation and as such, promoted and successfully conducted the Centennial in Marion from August 26 to September 1, 1939.
After the main objective of the Centennial Association was accomplished, it was decided to continue it permanently as a joint medium for carrying out the objects and plans of both the Pioneer Daughters and the Pioneer Sons.
On September 29, 1939, permission was given by the Secretary of State to change the name of the Centennial Association to The Williamson County Historical Society, the Pioneer Daughters and Pioneer Sons continuing as separate organizations but working together thru the County Historical Society.
From 1938 up through the 1939 centennial event, both the Pioneer Sons and Daughters actively recruited membership in both clubs.
The Pioneer Daughters group was particularly active and contributed greatly toward the success of the Centennial Celebration in 1939. Thru their own efforts they purchased, removed and rebuilt the Pioneer Cabin in the Williamson County Fair Grounds, which they maintained as one of the attractions of the Annual County Fair. The cabin was filled with valuable relics of pioneer days and remained open each day of the Fair, with members of the Society in attendance wearing period costumes to illustrate the pioneer lives of our ancestors. The cabin was destroyed by fire around 1950.
With a number of the main goals of the organization having been accomplished and with the formation of the Williamson County Historical Society to replace it, the organization dissolved.
Officers of Pioneer Daughters of Williamson County
| Estelle Burnett Colp | Marion | President |
| Laura Crain Colp | Herrin | 1st Vice President |
| Lucille Vick Howell | Herrin | 2nd Vice President |
| Grace Davis Vick | Marion | 3rd Vice President |
| Lucille Hunter Norman | Marion | 4th Vice President |
| Nannie Gray Parks | Marion | Historian |
| Jennie Hendrickson Hentz | Marion | Treasurer |
| Ruth Mercer Wallace | Marion | Recording Secretary |
| Laura B. Casey Skaggs | Marion | Corresponding Secretary |
| Stella Perry Elles | Herrin | Parliamentarian |
Shown in photo 1 L-R are Ruth (McInturff) Hudspeth, Byrd (Holland) McAlpin and Octavia (Russell) North.
Shown in photo 2 L-R are Vinnie (Brown) Winstead, Ada (Smoot) Elliott, and Lucy (Hunter) Norman.
(Photos courtesy of the Williamson County Historical Society; Data from the Pioneer Daughters of Williamson County Application Handout; 1939 Centennial data; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 07/11/2013)