Daughters of the American Colonists

Daughters of the American Colonists is a national lineage society founded in 1920 that celebrates and preserves the memory of colonial-era ancestors who served in official or military capacities in British North America prior to the United States Declaration of Independence. The organization connects descendants through genealogical documentation and commemorative activities tied to sites, events, and institutions associated with early American settlement and conflict, fostering links among heritage organizations, historic preservations, and civic institutions.

History

The society was established in the context of a broader early 20th-century revival of lineage societies that included Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, National Society Colonial Dames, and Order of the Founders and Patriots of America. Founders drew on precedents set by Colonial Dames of America and regional groups active in cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston, South Carolina. Early officers corresponded with figures in historic preservation connected to Mount Vernon, Monticello, Plymouth Rock, and state historical societies like the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Virginia Historical Society. During the interwar period the society expanded chapters in states including New York (state), Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia (U.S. state), aligning projects with commemorations of events such as the Boston Tea Party centennial observances and restorations of sites related to the French and Indian War. Throughout the 20th century the society interacted with federal programs connected to the National Park Service and anniversaries including the bicentennial-era initiatives of the United States Bicentennial.

Membership and Eligibility

Eligibility requires documented descent from an ancestor who served in an official municipal, colonial, or military role in British America prior to 1776, similar in scope to qualifying criteria used by Hereditary Order of the First Families of Virginia and Mayflower Society but focused on colonial service rather than migration alone. Applicants submit genealogical proofs such as baptismal records from parishes like Christ Church (Philadelphia), muster rolls from engagements like the Siege of Louisbourg (1745), land grants recorded in offices such as the Virginia Land Office, or court records housed in repositories like the Library of Congress and state archives including the New York State Archives. Lineage verification often references primary sources including wills in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury or colonial muster lists preserved in collections such as the Massachusetts Archives Collection. Members historically have included descendants of signers and public servants connected to figures like John Winthrop, William Penn, Roger Williams, George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, and colonial militia leaders tied to the Ohio Company of Virginia.

Organization and Structure

The society is organized into state societies and local chapters mirroring analogous structures used by Daughters of the American Revolution and United Daughters of the Confederacy, with a national headquarters that coordinates programs and publishes reports similar to periodicals issued by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Governance typically includes elected offices such as President General, recording secretary, and registrar, with committees for genealogy, preservation, and patriotic instruction paralleling committees found in the Society of Colonial Wars. Meetings and conferences are often held in venues used by heritage institutions including Smithsonian Institution facilities, state capitols like the Texas State Capitol, and historic houses such as Gunston Hall and Hearthstone Historic House Museum. The society maintains bylaws and lineage standards that coordinate with archival partners like the National Archives and Records Administration.

Activities and Programs

Programs emphasize historic preservation, educational outreach, and commemorative projects comparable to initiatives undertaken by Historic New England and the American Battlefield Trust. Local chapters sponsor preservation of markers on routes like the National Register of Historic Places listings, erect plaques at sites connected to colonial figures such as John Smith (explorer) and Maryland's St. Mary's City, and support archaeological work related to colonial settlements like Jamestown. Educational activities include scholarships and essay contests comparable to awards administered by the DAR American History Committee and lectures in collaboration with universities such as Harvard University, William & Mary, and Princeton University. The society participates in wreath-laying ceremonies at memorials such as the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier and commemorations of battles including the Siege of Fort William Henry and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Publications, newsletters, and genealogical bulletins circulate findings akin to those published by the Genealogical Society of Utah and regional historical journals.

Awards and Recognitions

The organization grants medals, certificates, and honors to members and institutions for contributions to preservation, research, and patriotic service, reflecting practices used by groups like the American Antiquarian Society and the National Society Magna Charta Dames. Awards recognize efforts such as restorations of sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, archival donations to repositories like the Newberry Library, and scholarly publications on colonial topics published by presses such as Oxford University Press and University of Virginia Press. Honorary recognitions have been presented to individuals affiliated with museums and historic sites like Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, curators at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and scholars specializing in colonial studies connected to projects funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Category:Lineage societies Category:American patriotic societies