National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution

National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Edna Barney from Virginia, · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Formation	1890
Headquarters	DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C.
Type	Service organization, lineage society
Membership	Hereditary (women)

National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is a hereditary lineage society and service organization founded in 1890 that traces descent from participants in the American Revolution, with headquarters at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., and chapters across the United States. The organization engages in historic preservation, patriotic education, and veterans' service, interacting with institutions such as the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and Records Administration, United States Congress, and state historical societies. Prominent individuals associated with the society have included figures linked to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

History

The society was established in 1890 by women including descendants connected to figures from American Revolutionary War campaigns, inspired by lineage organizations like the Sons of the American Revolution and precedents such as the Society of the Cincinnati, with early leaders drawing genealogical sources from collections at the New York Public Library, Boston Public Library, and state archives in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. During the Progressive Era the group expanded amid networks involving the Women's Christian Temperance Union, National American Woman Suffrage Association, and social leaders who corresponded with institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the United States Military Academy. In the 20th century the society purchased and preserved historic sites tied to Revolutionary figures including properties associated with Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, and participated in centennial and bicentennial commemorations alongside the United States Bicentennial Commission and American Battlefield Monuments Commission. Throughout World Wars I and II the organization supported efforts coordinated with the American Red Cross, United Service Organizations, and military hospitals in locales like Fort Belvoir and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Mission and Objectives

The society's stated aims emphasize historic preservation, patriotic education, and support for veterans, aligning activities with institutions such as the National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Programs promote curricula and public history projects referencing documents from the Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and collections at the National Archives and Records Administration, while awards and scholarships honor legacies associated with names like Betsy Ross, Martha Washington, John Adams, and James Madison. Civic engagement initiatives have intersected with legislative observances in the United States Congress, commemorative proclamations by the President of the United States, and collaborations with museums such as the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Membership and Lineage Requirements

Membership requires documented direct descent from persons who rendered service in support of the American Revolution, verified through primary sources held at repositories like the National Archives and Records Administration, state archives in Virginia, New York, and Maryland, or private collections tied to families such as the Adams family, Hancock family, and Hamilton family. Applicants submit genealogical proof including wills, pension records from the Pension Act of 1832, muster rolls, or land grants recorded in county courthouses across states including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia. The lineage standard aligns with practices used by hereditary societies such as the Jamestowne Society and the Hereditary Society Community of the United States of America, and has led to partnerships with genealogical organizations like the New England Historic Genealogical Society and Daughters of 1812 chapters.

Programs and Activities

The society administers scholarships, historical marker programs, preservation grants, and educational contests, often coordinating with universities such as Harvard University, Yale University, George Washington University, and museums like the Museum of the American Revolution. Veterans' service initiatives include volunteer programs supporting facilities like Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and memorial projects at sites such as the National World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The organization operates the DAR Museum and archives, which acquire collections connected to artisans like Paul Revere and artists exhibited at institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. Commemorative events and patriotic observances occur at venues including Constitution Hall, state capitols, and historic battlefields like Saratoga Battlefield and Yorktown Battlefield.

Organization and Governance

Governance is conducted through a national elected regent and a board supported by committees, state regents, and local chapter officers, following bylaws and parliamentary procedures similar to those used by civic organizations such as the American Legion and the League of Women Voters. The national headquarters at DAR Constitution Hall houses administrative offices, archives, and meeting spaces for national conferences that have hosted speakers from institutions like the United States Congress, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Department of State. Funding sources include membership dues, endowments, and donations managed via fiduciary oversight comparable to university endowments at Princeton University and Columbia University.

Controversies and Criticism

The society has faced criticism over exclusionary practices, discrimination controversies involving individuals connected to public figures such as Marian Anderson and incidents attracting attention from officials in Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, with responses debated in newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post, and Chicago Tribune. Debates around membership policies and public stances have involved civil rights organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, prompting internal reforms and statements by national leaders, and invoking historical scrutiny from scholars affiliated with universities like Howard University, Columbia University, and Boston University. Preservation decisions and monument endorsements have sometimes provoked legal challenges in state courts and legislative hearings in the United States Congress, drawing commentary from historians specializing in Revolutionary-era studies at institutions including Yale University and Harvard University.

Category:Lineage societies Category:Patriotic organizations in the United States