Daughters of the American Revolution

Daughters of the American Revolution, a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization, was founded in 1890 by Eugene Washington Clark, Mary Desha, Mary Lockwood, Eva Parker Ingham, and Mary Smith Lockwood to promote American Revolution history and patriotism. The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has over 180,000 members in the United States, Canada, and other countries, including Australia, France, and the United Kingdom. The organization's members are descended from Patriots who fought in the American Revolutionary War, including those who served at Valley Forge, Bunker Hill, and Yorktown. The organization's goals are to preserve American history, including the Treaty of Paris and the United States Constitution, and to support American education, as exemplified by institutions such as Harvard University and Yale University.

● History

The organization was founded on October 11, 1890, with the help of William O. McDowell, a Sons of the American Revolution member, and was incorporated by an act of United States Congress on June 6, 1896, with the support of President Grover Cleveland and First Lady Frances Cleveland. The organization's first president was Caroline Scott Harrison, wife of President Benjamin Harrison, who served from 1890 to 1892, and was followed by Letitia Green Stevenson, wife of Vice President Adlai Stevenson. The organization's early years were marked by the establishment of chapters, including the New York City chapter, which was founded in 1891, and the Boston chapter, which was founded in 1892, with the support of Massachusetts Governor John Quincy Adams and Boston Mayor Nathan Matthews. The organization also supported the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, which featured exhibits on American history, including the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence.

● Organization

The organization is governed by a national board of management, which includes the National President, National Vice Presidents, and other officers, who are elected by the organization's members, including those from California, Texas, and New York. The organization is divided into state societies, which are further divided into local chapters, including the Los Angeles chapter, the Houston chapter, and the New York City chapter. The organization's national headquarters is located in Washington, D.C., and features a museum, library, and archives, which include documents and artifacts related to American history, such as the Articles of Confederation and the Treaty of Versailles. The organization also has a number of committees, including the American History Committee, the Conservation Committee, and the Education Committee, which support the organization's goals, including the preservation of American landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty and Mount Vernon.

● Membership

Membership in the organization is open to women who are descended from Patriots who fought in the American Revolutionary War, including those who served at Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, and King's Mountain. Members must provide documentation of their Patriot ancestor's service, which can include records from the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress. The organization has over 180,000 members, including Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, and Rosalynn Carter, who are descended from Patriots such as George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Members can participate in a variety of activities, including genealogy research, historical preservation, and community service, which support the organization's goals, including the preservation of American culture, as exemplified by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art.

● Activities

The organization supports a variety of activities, including historical preservation, education, and community service, which are carried out by its members, including those in Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The organization's members participate in genealogy research, which helps to preserve American family history, including the history of families such as the Adams family and the Roosevelt family. The organization also supports historical preservation efforts, including the preservation of American landmarks, such as the White House and the United States Capitol. The organization's members also participate in community service projects, including volunteer work at national parks, such as Yellowstone National Park and Yosemite National Park, and historical sites, such as Gettysburg National Military Park and Mount Rushmore.

● Notable Members

The organization has a number of notable members, including First Ladies such as Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, and Rosalynn Carter, who are descended from Patriots such as George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Other notable members include Elizabeth Dole, Nancy Reagan, and Pat Nixon, who are descended from Patriots such as Patrick Henry and John Hancock. The organization's members also include women's rights activists, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who fought for women's suffrage and other civil rights, including the 19th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The organization's members have also included authors, such as Edith Wharton and Willow Bay, who have written about American history and culture, including the American Renaissance and the Harlem Renaissance.

● Controversies

The organization has been involved in a number of controversies over the years, including racism and exclusionary policies, which have been criticized by civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. The organization has also been criticized for its conservative politics, which have been at odds with the liberal politics of some of its members, including Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi. The organization has also faced criticism for its handling of genealogy research, which has been accused of being inaccurate and incomplete, including the LDS Church's International Genealogical Index. Despite these controversies, the organization remains a prominent and respected organization in the United States, with a strong commitment to American history and patriotism, as exemplified by institutions such as the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress. Category:American Revolution