DAR: A Brief History

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded to give women, who were excluded from men's groups, an organization to perpetuate their memories of ancestors who fought to make this countrt free and independent.
The four founders of the DAR were independent, working women. Two were single, and two were widowed. All four supported either children or extended family.
August 9, 1890—Miss Washington, Miss Desha, and Mrs. Walworth met to found the Society as a national organization, to revise and adopt the constitution, to appoint the first board of management, and to propose Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, wife of the U. S. President, as the first President General.

October 11, 1890—eighteen members met to approve the work of August 9 and affect full organization. Mrs. Harrison was elected President General.

October 18, 1890—four motions were adopted: (1) that a monument be erected in Paris in memory of George Washington; (2) that aid be given to Mary Washington (monument) Association; (3) that the Society secure rooms and that—later—a fireproof building in which to preserve Revolutionary relics and historic papers be built; (4) that life membership dues and charter fees be set aside for this purpose.

November 11, 1890—the proposed Seal was adopted.

December 11, 1890—the DAR motto was adopted.

The objectives of the first meeting have remained the same over the last 120 years: Historical—to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence. Educational—to carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to "promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge, thus developing an enlightened public opinion." Patriotic—to cherish, maintain, and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty.

In 1890, DAR Museum was founded to house family treasures—now containing 30,000 historical relics.

In January 1891, General Washington's staff colors of blue and white were adopted as NSDAR colors.

May 26, 1891— the insignia of Society was adopted—with J.E. Caldwell & Co. as the official jeweler.

June 8, 1891— the Society was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia as "The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution."

July 1, 1891— the first member "badge" (DAR Insignia) was sent by J.E. Caldwell & Co.

In 1892, the only resolution adopted by the first NSDAR Continental Congress was to honor and respect the Flag of the United States of America.

May 7, 1892— a magazine was approved as the official organ of the Society. Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth was appointed editor.

June 14, 1893— the National Board of Management recommended that all members display the national flag at their homes on July 4.

February 22, 1895— the office of Honorary President General was created—to be filled only by retired Presidents General.

April 5, 1895— C.A.R. was incorporated in Washington, DC.

In 1896, the DAR Library was founded as a collection of genealogical and historical publications to be used in verifying application papers. Shortly after 1900, the collection was opened to the public.

In the late 1890's, during the Spanish-American War, the NSDAR was asked to help alleviate the shortage of male nurses by examining applications of women nurses and listing those qualified. Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee, a DAR officer, headed the effort. In all, 4,600 nurses were examined and 1,700 were certified.

After the War, DAR—at its own expense—paid pensions to all such nurses who entered the service prior to September 6, 1898, who were not receiving or not eligible for government pensions. DAR commemorates this contribution by awarding the Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee Award annually to the "Nurse of the Year" selected by a board of the Army Nurse corps, Surgeon General's Office.

NSDAR participates in commemorative events throughout the U. S. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the Society has presented a Flag of the United States to the Senate and House of Representatives when needed for use at the rostrums of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.

In 1905, when the DAR Memorial Continental Hall was partially completed on land near the White House, the Fourteenth Continental Congress convened in the unfinished Hall. The Society moved into Memorial Continental Hall just before the Eighteenth Continental Congress.

During World War I, DAR loaned its National Headquarters land to the U.S. Federal Government, who erected a temporary war office on the property—providing temporary office space for 600 people.

After WWI, DAR funded the reconstruction of the water system in Tilloloy, France, and donated more than $130,000 for the support of 3,600 French war orphans.
In 1921, DAR compiled and published the "DAR Manual for Citizenship" to be given to immigrants at Ellis Island and other points of entry. More than 10 million manuals have been distributed to date.

From November, 1921 to February, 1922, world leaders met in DAR Memorial Continental Hall for the Conference on Limitation of Armaments—a groundbreaking meeting for peace.

From 1928-1929, DAR placed 18 foot-tall Madonna of the Trail monuments—depicting a pioneer mother and two children—in twelve states from Maryland to California, along the National Old Trails Road.

Founded in the 1940's, The DAR Americana Collection contains rare manuscripts and U.S. artifacts.

During the 1940's, DAR raised thousands of dollars to assist in the U.S. Forestry's re-forestation project.

During World War II, DAR provided care packages for 197,000 soldiers and sponsored all 89 crews of Landing Craft Infantry ships.

Also, during World War II, the DAR lent their buildings to the American Red Cross, and a nursery was set up in the basement for enlisted men's wives who had to go to work. In response to its World War II Memorial Challenge effort, DAR contributed more than $460,000 to the national effort to build the memorial in the nation's capital.
DAR gave over $516,000 to the Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation in observance of the 100th Birthday of "Lady Liberty." Almost $250,000 was contributed toward Ellis Island restoration. The "Wall of Honor" was supported by many Daughters and families.

Since its inception, the NSDAR has rendered an important service to the U.S. Government by locating and indexing unmarked graves of Revolutionary soldiers—all done completely at DAR time and expense.

In 1955, the DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to observe Constitution Week. This resolution was adopted on August 2, 1956, as Public Law #915.

The DAR also initiated American History Month on February 1956, as a special observance.

The National Society presents, annually, an award to the top graduate in a particular field at the Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Military and Naval Academies. It also gives awards at Marine Corps Office Candidate School, Quantico, VA; Coast Guard Reserve Training Center, Yorktown, VA; and Naval Educational Training Center, Newport, RI. These awards are presented by DAR members.

On July 4, 1972, the Governor's Council Chamber and the Committee of the Assembly's Room in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA, were furnished by the NSDAR and formally opened to the public.

In 1978—the current motto "God, Home and Country" was adopted.
The 100th Anniversary of the NSDAR was observed October 11, 1990, with commemorative events.

Annually the NSDAR recognizes an Outstanding DAR Veteran-Patient, Outstanding Teacher of American History, Army Nurse of the Year, Outstanding Youth Volunteer, and Outstanding DAR VAVS Member.

From its inception, DAR has recognized women—designated as Dazzling Daughters—who have achieved uncommon goals or performed heroic acts and shared a sense of purpose and pride and an undaunted pursuit of their ideals: Clara Barton, founder and president of the American Red Cross, was the first NSDAR Surgeon General from 1890 to 1893. Suffragette, Susan B. Anthony, was a DAR Life Member. Grandma Moses was also a DAR member. Recent DAR members include Ginger Rogers, dancer and actress; Admiral Grace Hopper, U.S. Navy; Rhea Seddon, first female astronaut; Janet Reno, past Attorney General; Mary Ellen Withrow, past Secretary of the Treasury; former U.S. senator, Elizabeth Dole; former U.S. Congresswoman and Ambassador to the Holy See, Lindy Boggs; and wives of many U.S. Presidents.