Daughters of the American Revolution facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Daughters of the American Revolution

DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
Abbreviation	NSDAR or DAR
Motto	God, Home, and Country
Founded	October 11, 1890
Founders	Mary Smith Lockwood Mary Desha Ellen Hardin Walworth Eugenia Washington
Type	Non-profit, lineage society, service organization
Focus	Historic preservation, education, patriotism, community service
Headquarters	Memorial Continental Hall Washington, D.C., U.S.
Membership	190,000
President General	Pamela Rouse Wright
Publication	American Spirit Magazine, Daughters Magazine
Affiliations	Children of the American Revolution
Website	dar.org

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (often called DAR) is a special group for women. To join, a woman must be a direct descendant of someone who helped the American Revolution. This non-profit organization works to promote education and patriotism.

DAR members must be at least 18 years old. They need a birth certificate showing they are female. The DAR has over 190,000 members today. They live in the United States and other countries. The group's motto is "God, Home, and Country."

History of the DAR

The Founders of the Daughters of the American Revolution sculpture honoring DAR's four founders

Julia Green Scott, a past DAR president general, in 1913

In 1889, people celebrated 100 years since President George Washington took office. Americans wanted new ways to remember their past. This led to many patriotic groups being formed.

One group, the Sons of the American Revolution, did not allow women to join. So, on July 13, 1890, Mary Smith Lockwood wrote an article. She asked, "Where will the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution place Hannah Arnett?" Hannah Arnett was a brave patriot.

Soon after, William O. McDowell offered to help form a group for women. It would be called the Daughters of the American Revolution. The first meeting was held on August 9, 1890.

The first DAR chapter started on October 11, 1890. It was at the home of Mary Smith Lockwood. She was one of the four main founders. The other founders were Eugenia Washington, Ellen Hardin Walworth, and Mary Desha.

Caroline Harrison, the wife of President Benjamin Harrison, was the first DAR President General. She was interested in saving old buildings. She helped set the goals for the DAR. The U.S. Congress officially recognized the DAR in 1896.

How the DAR is Organized

The DAR has three main levels. These are the National Society, State Societies, and local Chapters. A State Society can be formed in any U.S. State or country with a DAR Chapter.

Chapters are local groups. They can be started by at least 12 members. These members usually live in the same city or town.

Each level has leaders called officers. The top leader is the President General. State groups have a "State Regent." Local chapters have a "Chapter Regent." These leaders help guide the organization.

Historic Programs and Projects

A Daughters of the American Revolution marker. It was placed in 1926 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It honors local patriots from the American Revolutionary War.

DAR chapters have worked on many projects. They help save history and show patriotism. They often place markers at the graves of Revolutionary War veterans. They also put small flags on their graves on Memorial Day.

The DAR also puts up monuments. These honor battles and other important places from the war. They also remember women who helped the Revolution. For example, they placed a monument where women got water to fight fires during a battle.

DAR chapters have also bought and saved historic houses. These are places connected to the American Revolution. They help keep these sites open for people to visit.

DAR Hospital Corps (1898)

In the 1800s, the U.S. military did not have many nurses. When the Spanish-American War started in 1898, Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee helped. She was a DAR leader. She started the DAR Hospital Corps.

This group helped find and check nurses for the Army. The DAR Hospital Corps approved 1,081 nurses for the war. Many of these nurses later received pensions from the DAR.

These nurses served in the U.S., Cuba, and the Philippines. Their work helped create the Army Nurse Corps in 1901. Dr. McGee also helped with this.

The DAR Today

Rhode Island's DAR chapter at the 2023 Gaspee Days Parade in Pawtuxet Village.

Today, the DAR has about 180,000 members. They are in about 3,000 chapters. These chapters are across the United States and in other countries. The DAR says it is a very open group for family history.

Any woman 18 or older can join. This is true no matter her race, religion, or background. She just needs to prove she is a direct descendant of an American Revolution patriot. The DAR checks all applications carefully.

Who Can Join?

Membership is open to all women. They must show a direct family link to an ancestor who helped the United States become independent.

People who helped achieve independence include:

• Those who signed the United States Declaration of Independence.
• Soldiers and sailors from the American Revolutionary War. This includes French and Spanish fighters who helped.
• Government workers of the time.
• People who signed an oath of loyalty.
• Those who took part in events like the Boston Tea Party.
• Prisoners of war, refugees, doctors, nurses, and ministers.
• Anyone else who gave important support to the Revolution.

The DAR has a book online with names of thousands of minority patriots. This helps people research their family history. Their online system also has a large database.

The DAR has chapters in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.. Chapters are also in countries like Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan.

In June 2023, the DAR added a rule to its guidelines. It says chapters "may not discriminate against an eligible applicant based on race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law." This means the DAR welcomes all eligible women. If a birth certificate says "female," that person is eligible.

Educational Programs

The DAR gives over $1 million each year to support five schools. These schools help students with special needs. The schools are:

• Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia
• Crossnore School in Crossnore, North Carolina
• Kate Duncan Smith DAR School in Grant, Alabama
• Hillside School in Marlborough, Massachusetts
• Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, Kentucky

The DAR also gives scholarships to Native American youth. This support ranges from $70,000 to $100,000. It helps students at schools like Chemawa Indian School and Bacone College.

Civic Work

DAR members do many volunteer projects. They help veterans and promote good citizenship. Some of their activities include:

• Volunteering over 200,000 hours each year at veterans' hospitals.
• Supporting U.S. service members abroad with care packages and phone cards.
• Sponsoring programs about the U.S. Constitution during Constitution Week (September 17–23).
• Taking part in ceremonies where new citizens are welcomed.

Exhibits and Library at DAR Headquarters

The DAR has a large library in Washington, D.C.. It helps people research their family history. Their bookstore sells books about U.S. history and women's history.

The DAR also has exhibits. These show women's arts and crafts, like quilts and embroidery. They explain the history behind these items. Permanent exhibits show American furniture and other items.

Literacy Promotion

In 1989, the DAR started a committee to help people read and write. DAR volunteers teach English and help people learn to read. They also raise money for reading programs.

American History Essay Contest

The DAR holds an essay contest each year. It is for students in 5th through 8th grades. A new topic is chosen every year. Essays are judged on how accurate they are and how well they are written. Winners receive a money award.

Scholarships

The DAR gives about $150,000 in scholarships every year. These go to high school graduates and students studying music, law, nursing, and medicine. Most scholarships are open to anyone, not just DAR members.

African Americans and the DAR

In 1939, the DAR did not allow Marian Anderson, a famous African American singer, to perform at their hall. This was because of rules at the time. Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady and a DAR member, resigned from the group because of this.

Eleanor Roosevelt said the DAR missed a chance to be a leader. Many people in the media also supported Marian Anderson. President Roosevelt and others helped arrange a concert for Marian Anderson. She sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Over 75,000 people came to listen. Millions more heard it on the radio.

In 1952, the DAR changed its policy. It allowed all performers. In 1977, Karen Batchelor Farmer became the first known African American member of the DAR.

In 1984, Lena Santos Ferguson was denied membership in a DAR chapter. This was because she was Black. She met all the family history rules. This caused a big public outcry. The DAR then changed its rules to prevent discrimination based on race or religion.

Since the mid-1980s, the DAR has worked to find and honor African American, Native American, and mixed-race patriots. These are people who helped in the American Revolution. In 2008, the DAR published a book called Forgotten Patriots. It lists many of these heroes.

In 2019, Wilhelmena Rhodes Kelly became the first African American elected to the DAR National Board of Management.

Notable Members

Living members

• Karen Batchelor, first African American member of the DAR
• Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States
• Carol Burnett, actress and comedian
• Bo Derek, actress and veterans advocate
• Elizabeth Dole, former U.S. Senator
• Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator and Army veteran
• Margaret Rhea Seddon, NASA astronaut
• Wilma Vaught, first woman brigadier general from the comptroller field

Deceased members

List of DAR Presidents General

The Presidents General are the top leaders of the DAR.

• 

  Caroline Scott Harrison, First DAR President General

• 

  Southern Woman Named DAR President General

• 

  Silver Arrow, a symbol of the Dillon administration.

*Note: During the Watkins administration, the President General and other National Officers began to be referred to by their own first names, rather than their husbands'.

Honors

A plaque at the Yale Club.

A special memorial honors the four founders of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It is located at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. The memorial was dedicated on April 17, 1929. It was sculpted by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, who was a DAR member.

See also

In Spanish: Daughters of the American Revolution para niños

• Children of the American Revolution
• Sons of the American Revolution