By Frederick N. Rasmussen , fred.rasmussen@baltsun.com|August 17, 2009
Katherine D. Scarborough, a former teacher, genealogist and newspaper columnist who was active in patriotic and historic organizations, died Monday from multiple organ failure at her home in the Edenwald retirement community in Towson. She was 85.
Katherine Streett Davis, who was known as Kay, was born and raised at her parent's Geneva Farm in Street.
She was a 1942 graduate of Highland High School and earned an associate's degree from St. Mary's College. She attended the University of Baltimore Law School in the late 1940s, and earned a degree in mass communications from Towson State University in 1980.
Mrs. Scarborough was descended from several Revolutionary War patriots, and her great-great-grandfather, Col John Streett, had commanded the Harford County Cavalry at the Battle of North Point during the War of 1812 and subsequently served in the Maryland legislature for a number of terms.
Her family's genealogy combined with a lifelong love of Maryland history resulted in Mrs. Scarborough becoming active in numerous patriotic and historical organizations.
In the 1950s, she joined the Daughters of the American Revolution and later founded the Colonel John Streett Chapter of the organization.
Mrs. Scarborough was a member of many organizations, including the National Society of Southern Dames of America in Maryland, the National Society of the Colonial Dames in the State of Maryland, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Descendants of Founders of New Jersey.
She was also a member of the National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Harford County and Maryland historical societies.
Mrs. Scarborough, who was a member of the Maryland Genealogical Society and the Genealogical Society of Harford County, lectured widely on the subject.
Mrs. Scarborough taught at the Cedarcroft Nursery School during the late 1970s and 1980s and was for eight years host of a public service show on WCAO-AM, where she interviewed celebrities.
From 1960 to 1976, Mrs. Scarborough was an active member of the Hampton Elementary School PTA.
"Among the things that she was most proud of during her tenure was getting Misty of Chincoteague and underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau to make personal appearances at the school," said a son, John C. Scarborough of Denver.
