Daughters of the American Revolution

Daughters of the American Revolution
Name	Daughters of the American Revolution
Caption	Official insignia
Formation	October 11, 1890
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Membership	~185,000
Key people	Eugenia Washington (Founder), Mary Smith Lockwood (Founder)
Website	www.dar.org

Daughters of the American Revolution. It is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' struggle for independence. Founded in the late 19th century during a period of heightened patriotic fervor, the organization is dedicated to promoting historical preservation, education, and patriotism. With its national headquarters located in the nation's capital, it oversees a vast network of chapters across the United States and internationally, engaging in a wide array of charitable and educational programs.

History and founding

The organization was founded on October 11, 1890, in Washington, D.C., by a group of four women: Eugenia Washington, Mary Smith Lockwood, Mary Desha, and Ellen Hardin Walworth. Its creation was a direct response to the exclusion of women from the male-only Sons of the American Revolution, which had been formed a year earlier. The founders, steeped in the Colonial Revival movement, sought to create a society that would honor the legacy of American Revolutionary War patriots. The early years were marked by establishing a constitution, defining strict genealogical standards for membership, and quickly gaining national prominence, with influential early members like Annie R. M. Logan and Letitia Green Stevenson. The organization's growth paralleled broader societal trends in United States during the Gilded Age, including an emphasis on heritage and social reform.

Membership and eligibility

Membership is restricted to women aged 18 and older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided the cause of American independence. Acceptable ancestors include those who served as soldiers, sailors, civil servants, or provided material aid during the American Revolution between 1775 and 1783. The proof of lineage is meticulously documented through primary sources and must be verified by the organization's national Genealogical Research Department. This process often involves examining records from the National Archives, local court documents, and historical societies like the New England Historic Genealogical Society. With approximately 185,000 members in nearly 3,000 chapters worldwide, the organization maintains one of the largest and most rigorous genealogical verification systems of any hereditary society.

Activities and programs

The organization executes its mission through three primary programmatic pillars: historical preservation, education, and patriotism. Its historical preservation efforts include maintaining numerous museums, such as the DAR Museum in Washington, D.C., and providing grants to preserve historical sites like St. Paul's Chapel in New York City. Educational initiatives encompass awarding scholarships, supporting Constitution Week, and sponsoring the annual American History Essay Contest for students. Patriotic activities involve naturalization ceremonies for new citizens, providing care packages to active-duty military through the USO, and commemorating events like Flag Day. The organization also operates schools for underserved communities, including the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School in Alabama and the Tamassee DAR School in South Carolina.

Headquarters and facilities

The National Society headquarters occupies a complex of buildings known as Memorial Continental Hall, Constitution Hall, and an administrative office building, all situated on a city block between 17th Street NW and 18th Street NW in Washington, D.C.. Memorial Continental Hall, completed in 1910, was the first purpose-built structure and houses the DAR Museum and a renowned genealogical library. Constitution Hall, opened in 1929, is a major performing arts venue that has hosted events ranging from presidential inaugurations to concerts by artists like Marian Anderson and the National Symphony Orchestra. The complex is a significant architectural landmark near other institutions such as the American Red Cross headquarters and the Ellipse.

Controversies and criticism

The organization has faced significant controversy, primarily regarding issues of racial segregation and exclusion. The most famous incident occurred in 1939 when Marian Anderson, a renowned African American contralto, was denied permission to perform at Constitution Hall by the organization's leadership. This decision prompted First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to resign her membership and helped instigate Anderson's historic open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. For decades, the organization enforced discriminatory membership policies, which were not officially changed until the latter half of the 20th century. It has also been criticized by some historians and groups like the American Civil Liberties Union for promoting a narrowly focused, exclusionary version of American history that often marginalized the contributions of minorities and women.

Notable members

Throughout its history, the organization has counted many prominent American women among its members. These include several First Ladies such as Caroline Harrison, Edith Roosevelt, Lou Henry Hoover, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Rosalynn Carter, and Laura Bush. Other notable members have been influential figures like journalist Clare Boothe Luce, astronaut Mae Jemison, actress Ginger Rogers, businesswoman Martha Washington (a direct descendant of the First Lady), and political activist Susan B. Anthony. The membership of figures like Lorena Hickok and Margaret Chase Smith further illustrates its reach into diverse fields of American public life.

Category:American Revolutionary War heritage organizations Category:Women's organizations based in the United States Category:Genealogical societies Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C. Category:1890 establishments in the United States