Daughters of the American Revolution
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The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a "lineage membership organization"[1] dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. DAR chapters are involved in raising funds for local scholarships and educational awards, preserving historical properties and artifacts and promoting patriotism within their communities. DAR has chapters in all fifty of the U.S. states as well as in the District of Columbia. There are also DAR chapters in Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom. DAR's motto is "God, Home, and Country." Some state chapters of DAR date from as early as October 11, 1890, and the National Society of DAR was incorporated by Congressional charter in 1896.
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[edit] Eligibility
The National Society of DAR is the final arbiter of the acceptability of all applications for membership. Membership in DAR is open to women at least eighteen years of age who can prove lineal bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving United States independence. Acceptable ancestors include various related categories of known historical figures, including:
- Signers of the United States Declaration of Independence;
- Military veterans of the American Revolutionary War, including State navies and militias, local militias, privateers, and French or Spanish soldiers and sailors who fought in the American theater of war;
- Civil servants of provisional or State governments;
- Members of the Continental Congress and State conventions and assemblies;
- Signers of Oaths of Allegiance or Oaths of Fidelity and Support;
- Participants in the Boston Tea Party;
- Prisoners of war, refugees, and defenders of forts and frontiers; doctors and nurses who aided Revolutionary casualties; and ministers, petitioners;
- And others who gave material or patriotic support to the Revolutionary cause.[1]
The DAR does not discriminate based on race or religion, and welcomes all women with a provable blood line to revolutionary ancestors.[1] The adopted daughter of a revolutionary descendant does not qualify through this adoptive parent, though she may qualify through the bloodline of her birth parent.
[edit] Marian Anderson controversy
Although the DAR now forbids discrimination in membership based on race or creed, some members held segregationist views when this was still public policy in the United States. In 1932 the DAR adopted a rule excluding African-American artists from the stage at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., built in 1929 by the DAR, following protests over "mixed seating"; blacks and whites seated together at concerts of black artists.[2] In 1936, Sol Hurok, manager of African-American contralto Marian Anderson since 1935, attempted to book Anderson at Constitution Hall. Due to the "white performers only" policy, the booking was refused. Instead, Anderson performed at a Washington area black high school, and was also invited by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to perform for her and President Roosevelt. During this time, Anderson came under considerable pressure from the NAACP to not perform for segregated audiences.[3]
In 1939, Hurok, along with the NAACP and Howard University, petitioned the DAR to make an exception to the "white performers only" policy for a new booking, which was rejected by the DAR. Hurok attempted to find a local high school for the performance, but the only suitable venue was an auditorium at a white high school. The school board, which was indirectly under the authority of the President, refused to allow Anderson to perform there.[3] Eleanor Roosevelt immediately resigned her membership with the DAR, and sent the following letter to the society:
Dear Mrs. Henry M. Robert, Jr.:
I am afraid that I have never been a very useful member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I know it will make very little difference to you whether I resign, or whether I continue to be a member of your organization.
However, I am in complete disagreement with the attitude taken in refusing Constitution Hall to a great artist. You have set an example which seems to me unfortunate, and feel obliged to send in to you my resignation. You had an opportunity to lead in an enlightened way and it seems to me that your organization has failed.
I realize that many people will not agree with me, but feeling as I do this seems to me the only proper procedure to follow.
Very sincerely yours,[4]
DAR president Mrs. Henry M. Robert, Jr., sent the First Lady the following reply:
My dear Mrs. Roosevelt,
Your letter of resignation reaches me in Colorado upon my return from the far West. I greatly regret that you found this action necessary. Our society is engaged in the education for citizenship[5]and the humanitarian service in which we know you to be vitally interested.
I am indeed sorry not to have been in Washington at this time. Perhaps I might have been able to remove some of the misunderstanding and to have presented to you personally the attitude of the society.
With best wishes always.
Very sincerely, [6]
Hurok and the NAACP again appealed to the DAR, and were again rejected.[7]
Later, the DAR apologized and welcomed Ms. Anderson to Constitution Hall on a number of occasions soon after 1939, including a benefit concert for war relief in 1942.[8] Ms. Anderson chose Constitution Hall as the place where she would launch her farewell American tour in 1964.[9] On January 27, 2005, the DAR co-hosted the first day of issue dedication ceremony of the Marian Anderson commemorative stamp with the U.S. Postal Service and Ms. Anderson's family.[10]
[edit] Partial list of famous DAR members
- Susan B. Anthony[11], American suffragist
- Clara Barton[11], Red Cross founder
- Lillian Gish[11], American actress
- Grandma Moses[11], American folk artist
- Ginger Rogers[11], American actress and dancer
[edit] See also
- The Colonial Dames of America
- The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
- Sons of the American Revolution
- Children of the American Revolution
- DAR Constitution Hall
[edit] Further reading
- Hunter, Ann Arnold. A Century of Service: The Story of the DAR. 1991, Washington, DC. National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
[edit] External links
- Daughters of the American Revolution website
- Daughters of the American Revolution at americanrevolution.com
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c Become a Member. Daughters of the American Revolution. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ Exhibit: Eleanor Roosevelt Letter. NARA (1939-02-26). Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ a b Marian Anderson at the MET: The 50th Anniversary, Early Career. The Metropolitan Opera Guild, Inc. (2005). Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ Roosevelt, Eleanor (1939-02-26). Dear Mrs. Henry M. Robert, Jr. (gif). Letter to DAR. NARA. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ Robert, Mrs. Henry M. (after 1939-02-26). My Dear Mrs. Roosevelt, page 1 (jpg). Response letter. NARA. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ Robert, Mrs. Henry M. (after 1939-02-26). My Dear Mrs. Roosevelt, page 2 (jpg). Response letter. NARA. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ "Washington Group Renews Anderson Dispute as SocietyGathers for Congress", New York Times, 1939-04-17, pp. 19. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ "D.A.R. NOW INVITES MARIAN ANDERSON; Singer, Barred From Capital Hall in 1939, Is Asked to Give First of War Aid Concerts", New York Times, 1942-09-30, pp. Obits. pp. 25. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ Marian Anderson at the MET: The 50th Anniversary, Late Life. The Metropolitan Opera Guild, Inc. (2005). Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ United States Postal Service (2005-01-04). Legendary Singer Marian Anderson Returns to Constitution Hall On U.S. Postage Stamp. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
- ^ a b c d e Dazzling Daughters, 1890-2004. Americana Collection exhibit. DAR. Retrieved on 2006-10-08.
This article contains text from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration website which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.
