National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from individuals involved in the American Revolutionary War. Founded on October 11, 1890, the organization focuses on historic preservation, education, patriotism, and community service[1].

History

The DAR was established after the Sons of the American Revolution refused to admit women to their society. This led to a renewed interest in forming a society for female descendants of Revolutionary War patriots. The first meeting was held at the Strathmore Arms in Washington, D.C., with Mary Smith Lockwood, Eugenia Washington, Ellen Hardin Walworth, and Mary Desha as the founding members[1].

Mission and Activities

The organization's mission is to promote education and patriotism, with a motto of "God, Home, and Country". DAR members participate in various activities such as:

• Historic Preservation: DAR maintains the Memorial Continental Hall in Washington, D.C., which serves as its headquarters.
• Education and Literacy: The DAR established the Literacy Promotion Committee in 1989 to support child and adult literacy efforts across the U.S. Members are involved in teaching English, tutoring, and preparing students for GED examinations[1].
• American History Essay Contest: An annual contest is held for students in grades 5 through 8, focusing on different historical topics each year[1].
• Scholarships: DAR offers scholarships to high school graduates and students in music, law, nursing, and medical school[1].

Chapters and Membership

The DAR has over 190,000 members across the United States and abroad. Chapters like the San Fernando Valley Chapter support local veterans and participate in community events[2]. Membership is open to women aged 18 and above who are direct descendants of Revolutionary War patriots.

Affiliations

The DAR is affiliated with the Children of the American Revolution, an organization for youth descendants, and often collaborates with other lineage societies on events like debutante balls[1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daughters_of_the_American_Revolution [2] https://sanfernandovalley.californiadar.org [3] https://nsdac.org [4] https://www.californiadar.org [5] https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/source-guide-entry-by-state/district-of-columbia/national-society-of-the-daughters-of-the-american-revolution.html