Daughters of American Revolution

1. National Society
Daughters of the American Revolution

2. Elisha Roberts Chapter, NSDAR
of Cypress, Texas
Melinda Svetlik Sims, Regent

3. God, Home, and Country…

4. History of the DAR
The DAR was founded on October 11, 1890 by four determined women and a
supporting cast of Patriotic Citizens.

5. Four Determined Women

6. Mary Desha

7. Mary Desha
Mary Desha was born on March 8, 1850, in Lexington,
Kentucky. She was well educated and for a short time
studied at what is now the University of Kentucky. When
her family was impoverished by the Civil War and the
women were needed to provide an income, Miss Desha and
her mother opened a private school in which they taught
their friends’ children. Several years later, Miss Desha
accepted a position with the Lexington public school system
and remained there until she took a job as a clerk in
Washington, DC, in December 1885.

8. Mary Desha
After spending a few years in Washington, Miss Desha accepted a
teaching position in Sitka, Alaska, in 1888. She found the living
conditions endured by the Alaskan natives unacceptable and her
written protest to the government in Washington resulted in a federal
investigation. She returned to Lexington in 1889, but shortly thereafter
accepted a post in Washington as a clerk in the pension office. She later
worked as a copyist in the Office of Indian Affairs.
Miss Desha continued in the civil service until her death and also spent
her own time after working hours acting as an Assistant Director of the
DAR Hospital Corps during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Mary
Desha died on January 29, 1911. Her fellow Daughters honored her
memory with the first memorial service ever held in Memorial
Continental Hall.

9. Mary S. Lockwood

10. Mary S. Lockwood
Mary Lockwood was born in Hanover, Chautauqua County, New York, on
October 24, 1831. She moved to Washington, DC, in about 1878. Mrs.
Lockwood’s residence was Washington’s elegant and imposing
Strathmore Arms, and it was there on October 11, 1890, the formal
organization of the NSDAR took place.
Mrs. Lockwood was the NSDAR’s first historian and the Society, inspired
by Mrs. Lockwood’s commitment to historic preservation, resolved on
October 18, 1890, to “provide a place for the collection of Historical
relics which will accumulate…and for historical portraits, pictures,
etc. This may first be in rooms, and later in the erection of a fire-proof
building.” She held many other national offices as well and served as
editor of the DAR Magazine from 1894 to 1900.

11. Mary S. Lockwood
Mrs. Lockwood was also a prolific author and wrote many noteworthy
books. Her last book, The Historic Homes of Washington, was dedicated
to her older brother to whom she became close after her mother’s
death when Mrs. Lockwood was only four years old. She was an avid
promoter of the work of women’s clubs and was both the founder of
the famous Travel Club and for a time president of the Women’s Press
Club. She also
held the position of Lady Manager at Large at the World’s Columbian
Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

12. Mary S. Lockwood
An acquaintance noted that “she is friendly to all progressive
movements, especially so in the progress of women.” Mary Lockwood
died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on November 9, 1922, and is buried
in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, DC. She was not only the last
surviving Founder, but is also the only Founder buried in Washington.

13. Ellen Walworth

14. Ellen Walworth
Ellen Walworth was born on October 20, 1832, in Jacksonville,
Illinois. When she was about 12 years old her father, John Hardin,
became a United States Congressman. In 1846 Mr. Hardin entered the
army to fight against Mexico and was killed while leading his regiment
at the battle of Buena Vista. The family continued to live in Jacksonville
until 1851, when Mrs. Walworth’s mother married the Honorable
Reuben Hyde Walworth and moved the family to Saratoga Springs, New
York.

15. Ellen Walworth
Mrs. Walworth earned her law degree at New York University and was
entitled to practice before the Court of New York and the District of
Columbia. In 1852 she married Mansfield Tracy Walworth, her
stepfather’s youngest son. Mrs. Walworth opened her home as a
boarding and day school after her husband’s death in 1873. The
school’s success required her eventually to remodel and enlarge the
facilities. Mrs. Walworth continued to live on the property year round
until finally the cold New York winters affected her health and she
began to make her home in Washington, DC, in winter.

16. Ellen Walworth
One of Mrs. Walworth's earliest public efforts was her moving plea to
the members of her local community to contribute to the fund to
renovate George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, in Alexandria,
Virginia. Mrs. Walworth wrote constantly on patriotic and historic
subjects. She was an authority on the battlefields of Saratoga and also
published an account of the Burgoyne campaign. She served as
director-general of the Woman’s National War Relief Association of
1898. Mrs. Walworth was the first editor of the official publication of
the NSDAR, the American Monthly Magazine, serving from the spring of
1892 until July 1894. Ellen Walworth died on June 23, 1915, and was
laid to rest in the family lot at Green Ridge, near Saratoga, New York.

17. Eugenia Washington

18. Eugenia Washington
Eugenia Washington was born on June 24, 1840, near Charlestown in what is
now West Virginia. She was the daughter of William Temple Washington and
Margaret Calhoun Fletcher, a great niece of Senator John C. Calhoun of South
Carolina. In 1859, when she was nineteen years old, her father moved the
family to Falmouth, Virginia, just north of Fredericksburg. Her mother died
near this time, and her father was disabled and relied on his daughter to care
for him.

19. Eugenia
Washington
When the Battle of Fredericksburg was imminent in December 1862, she
wanted to escape with her father to a place of safety quickly, but was delayed
one full day because a wounded federal officer was brought to her door and
placed in her care while he waited for a surgeon. The battle had begun by the
time she was ready to flee, and she and her father were caught on the
battlefield. She found shelter for both of them in a small trench left by a
cannon. They were forced to remain in that spot for a whole day and
witnessed the entire battle from that position. It is said that Miss
Washington’s experiences that day inspired in her a will to assist women from
both the North and the South in the worthy cause of preserving their shared
heritage and that this was her purpose in helping to found the NSDAR.

20. Eugenia Washington
At the close of the war, Miss Washington was offered a government
position with the post office department, and so she and her father
moved to Washington, DC. Known fondly as “Miss Eugie” she was
considered quite attractive and always received a great deal of attention
wherever she went. Eugenia Washington died at her home in
Washington on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1900.

21. Founding of the DAR…
On October 11, 1890, eighteen women and four men met in Washington for the
purpose of organizing the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) had recently been founded in New York
City on April 30, 1889. Some SAR societies permitted women and some did not. At
the next year’s general meeting on April 30, 1890, the matter was put to a vote and
the SAR decided to officially exclude women from its membership.
This event sparked controversy and discussion in the national press, and caught the
attention of Mary Smith Lockwood. Incensed that the contributions of women to the
American Revolution were not being recognized, Mrs. Lockwood wrote a fiery
editorial that was published in the Washington Post on July 13, 1890. In it, she
demonstrated convincingly that women had contributed much to the Revolutionary
cause that had previously been overlooked and ignored. She asked, “Were there no
mothers of the Revolution?”
William O. McDowell, Vice President General of SAR, disagreed with the vote and
believed that women should form their own similar patriotic organization. He wrote
his own letter to the Post, which was published on July 21, urging women to organize
and offering his assistance. Six women soon replied, including Miss Mary Desha who
wrote, “I am good for any amount of work.”

22. Founding of the DAR…
Eighteen women attended the first official organizing meeting held on October 11,
1890 at the Strathmore Arms boarding house at 810 12th Street, the home of Mrs.
Lockwood. These include the four women traditionally considered to be the
organization’s founders: Mrs. Lockwood, Miss Desha, Miss Eugenia Washington, and
Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth. Four men also attended the meeting and formed the
first Advisory Board to the NSDAR.
During the meeting, the first slate of national officers was elected, with the nation’s
first lady, Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, as President General. The women adopted a
tentative constitution, discussed the scheduling of annual meetings, and decided
that October 11 would be the permanent anniversary of the society. Their first
resolution pledged support toward completing the memorial monument to Mary
Washington, mother of George Washington. And so the first meeting of the DAR was
adjourned, having laid the groundwork for a long tradition of patriotic service to the
nation.
Based on the account in A Century of Service: The Story of the DAR by Ann Arnold
Hunter. NSDAR: Washington, D.C., 1991.
www.dar.org

23. Founders Memorial

24. Founders Memorial
Founders Memorial
On April 17, 1929, under the leadership of President General Grace L. H.
Brosseau, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
dedicated this memorial to its four founders: Mary Desha, Mary Smith
Lockwood, Ellen Hardin Walworth, and Eugenia Washington.
Noted artist and DAR member Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney sculpted
this beautiful monument from Tennessee marble. The graceful,
feminine form depicted here is typical of Whitney’s sculptures. The
human figure was her favorite medium through which to illustrate the
expanse of human emotions and ideas.

25. Founding Truths…
The objectives laid forth at the first DAR meeting have remained
the same for the 125 years of service to the nation.
Those objectives are: 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 the American people, "to
promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the
general diffusion of knowledge, thus developing an enlightened
public opinion…"; and 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.

26. Celebrating 125 years of
Service to America!

27. 125 Years of Service
Ellis Island
In 1923, the Daughters of the American Revolution became the only society to sponsor occupational
work on Ellis Island for those who were detained there. The Daughters provided cloth, yarn, crochet
and embroidery supplies that not only helped the immigrants pass the time but also provided much-
needed items for their families. Members taught them to crochet belts and neckties, hook rugs, and
weave woolen scarves. From 1923 to 1940, DAR contributed approximately $230,000 to support the
misplaced thousands at Ellis Island. Their generosity also included 21,000 boxes of supplies, along with
sewing machines, looms and carpenter’s tools, along with trained workers who provided instruction
and distributed the supplies.
Eventually, as quotas began to limit the numbers of immigrants, the hospital used to treat them
became known as the Marine Hospital to treat American merchant seamen and members of the U.S.
Coast Guard. At the request of the U.S. Government, in 1934 the Daughters extended their skilled
occupational therapy support to these patients, hiring three full-time workers, two therapists and a
crafts teacher. Daughters’ contributions funded the salaries as well as supplies needed by this
additional staff. Their work with the servicemen continued throughout World War II, when the
hospital on Ellis Island became a Marine Hospital for members of the Coast Guard.
While their involvement with Ellis Island immigrants ended when the facility closed in 1951, their
support did not. In conjunction with the 1986 centennial restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis
Island, under the administrations of Presidents General Sarah M. King, Ann D. Fleck, and Marie H.
Yochim, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution raised $771,000 that was donated
for the restoration of these symbols of freedom.

28. Did you know?
The DAR Museum was founded in 1890 as a repository for family
treasures. Today, the museum contains over 30,000 historical relics that
form a collective memory of the decorative and fine arts in America
from 1700-1850.
The DAR Library was founded in 1896 as a collection of genealogical and
historical publications for the use of staff genealogists verifying
application papers for the National Society Daughters of the American
Revolution. Shortly after 1900 the growing collection was opened to the
public and has remained so ever since.
The U.S. Army appointed DAR member, Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee, as
Acting Assistant Surgeon, U.S. Army, in charge of nurses. She organized
the DAR Hospital Corps, Army Nurse Corps, and served as NSDAR's first
Librarian General.

29. Did you know?
The DAR Hospital Corps certified 1,081 nurses for service during the
Spanish-American War. DAR later funded pensions for many of these
nurses who did not qualify for government pensions.
During the Spanish-American War, DAR purchased a ship's tender for
the USS Missouri to be used as a hospital launch for transporting the
wounded from shore to ship.
To help with the war effort during World War I, DAR loaned its National
Headquarters land to the United States. The federal government used
the land to erect a temporary war office building that provided office
space for 600 people.

30. Did you know?
After World War I, DAR funded the reconstruction of the water system
in the village of Tilloloy, France, and donated more than $130,000 for
the support of 3,600 French war orphans.
DAR provided materials for sewing, wood, and leatherwork to the
immigrants detained for processing on Ellis Island. This helped to
alleviate the depression and anxiety of these men and women who
were strangers in a new land.
In 1921, DAR compiled and published the "DAR Manual for Citizenship."
DAR distributed this guide to American immigrants at Ellis Island and
other ports of entry. To date, more than 10 million manuals have been
distributed.

31. Did you know?
From November 1921 until February 1922, world leaders met in DAR
Memorial Continental Hall for the Conference on Limitation of
Armaments, a groundbreaking meeting for peace.
The Americana Collection, founded in the early 1940s, brought together
rare manuscripts and imprints previously scattered among the holdings
of the DAR Museum and DAR Library. Today, the collection flourishes
from more than 60 years of actively seeking out and acquiring artifacts
that reflect a unique image of our nation.
DAR raised thousands of dollars to assist in the re-forestation project of
the U.S. Forestry Service during the 1940s.

32. Did you know?
During World War II, DAR provided 197,000 soldiers with care packages
and sponsored all 89 crews of Landing Craft Infantry ships.
During World War II, the use of the DAR buildings was given to the
American Red Cross. A children's day nursery was set up in the
basement of Constitution Hall for enlisted men's wives who had to go to
work.
The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started many years
ago by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1955, the DAR
petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be
dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was
later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into Public Law #915 on
August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

33. DAR Today
This year the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution or
as we are more commonly known, the DAR is celebrating 125 years of
Service to America.
There are 175,000 DAR members in 3,000 Chapters across the country
and around the world.
Since 2013, DAR Members have completed over 10 Million Volunteer
Hours. Volunteer hours are calculated at a rate of $23.07 dollars per
hour. As a result, DAR Members have contributed volunteer labor
equivalent to over $230,700,000.

34. Lynn Forney Young, President
General NSDAR
Lynn Forney Young is the First President General from Texas.
Judy Callaway Ostler is the Texas State Regent. There are over 18,000 Active
members in Texas.

35. The DAR is a non-profit and non-political Women’s Service Organization.
Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal descent from a
Patriot of the American Revolution may join, regardless of race, religion
or creed.

36. Who are the members of the
DAR?
The members of the DAR come from many diverse backgrounds and hold
a variety of interests.
However, each member shares a common bond…lineal descent from
Patriots of the American Revolution.

37. Our members…
Care about fostering Good Citizenship
Want to honor their ancestors
Are devoted to educating our youth
Want to preserve our past for future generations

38. Many of our members…
Enjoy learning about American History
Researching genealogy
Coordinating local community service projects
Sharing in family DAR traditions
Participating in Commemorative Events

39. Fairfield 4th of July Parade

40. What do DAR members do?
Historic Preservation
Chapters across the country and around the world participate in…
Restoring and maintaining Historical Sites
Preserving genealogical records, artifacts, and historical documents
Locating, restoring, and marking Revolutionary War Patriot gravesites
and headstones

42. Education
DAR members are passionate about educating the youth of America and contributing to schools
and student programs in a variety of ways, including:
Supporting six schools through chapter and member donations of money as well as personal time:
◦ Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, Grant, AL
◦ Tamassee DAR School, Tamassee, SC
◦ Crossnore School, Crossnore, NC
◦ Hillside School, Marlborough, MA
◦ Hindman Settlement School, Hindman, KY
◦ Berry College, Mount Berry, GA
Providing scholarships and funds to American Indian children and schools, including:
◦ Chemawa Indian School, Salem, OR
◦ Bacone College, Muskogee, OK
Providing scholarships and awards to outstanding students throughout the country
Promoting education and citizenship through youth programs such as Children of the American
Revolution, DAR Good Citizens and Junior American Citizens
Sponsoring American history essay contests for youth in grades 5 through 8
Offering educational summer camps and cultural programs through the DAR Museum

43. Elisha Roberts Chapter
The Elisha Roberts Chapter was organized in 2009 by Mrs. Laura Svetlik
Neal
The Elisha Roberts Chapter, NSDAR
and the
Robert Rankin Chapter, NSSAR
Proudly sponsor the
Wings of Freedom Society, NSCAR

44. Elisha Roberts Chapter Schools
The Elisha Roberts Chapter proudly supports the following schools:
Capstone Classical Academy
Salyards Middle School
Cypress Woods High School – JROTC only

45. DAR Patriotism
DAR Members’ love of country is evident in the multitude of patriotic endeavors
they pursue, including:
Providing more than 200,000 hours of volunteer time annually to veterans in
Veterans Administration hospitals and non-VA facilities
Offering support to America’s service personnel in current conflicts abroad through
care packages, phone cards and other needed items
Sponsoring special programs promoting the Constitution during its official
celebration week of September 17-23
Participating in naturalization ceremonies
Presenting patriotic awards to deserving individuals including:
◦ Outstanding Veteran Volunteer Award
◦ DAR Good Citizens awards and medals
◦ ROTC medals
◦ Community Service awards

46. DAR Headquarters in
Washington D. C.
The complex consists of the following:
Headquarters at 1776 D Street.
Constitution Hall
DAR Museum
DAR Library

47. DAR Library

48. DAR Library
The DAR Library was founded in 1896 as a collection of genealogical and
historical publications for the use of staff genealogists verifying
application papers for the National Society Daughters of the American
Revolution. Shortly after 1900 the growing collection was opened to the
public and has remained so ever since. The DAR Library is free to all
visitors.
The Library is one of the nation's premier genealogical research centers
based on the uniqueness of its sources. The Library's book collection
numbers some 225,000 volumes, the cataloging records for which
constitute this catalog. Approximately 3,000 new titles enter the Library
each year, many of which are works printed in limited quantities.

49. DAR Library
Many thousands of volumes of genealogical compilations, record
abstracts, and other materials are available only at the DAR Library. DAR
members and the public have contributed these sources, building a
collection of great research depth covering all periods of American
history. The period of the American Revolution is naturally a major focal
point, but the colonial era and the nineteenth century receive detailed
coverage as well. Through the efforts of local DAR members and
chapters nationwide almost 20,000 volumes of Genealogical Records
Committee Reports have entered the Library and constitute a unique
source for family histories, cemetery record transcriptions, and Bible
records.

50. DAR Library
The Library is one of several departments at DAR National Headquarters in downtown
Washington which contains genealogical research material. Researchers wishing to
become more familiar with the large holdings of the Library and the other offices should
consult the DAR's 1997 publication American Genealogical Research at the DAR,
Washington, D.C. by Eric G. Grundset and Steven B. Rhodes. This is the first
comprehensive guide to DAR collections designed to answer questions by both DAR
members and general researchers.
The microform holdings of the Library's Seimes Technology Center, numbering some
53,000 items, provide a major supplement to printed materials in the Library proper. The
focus of the Center's collection is on Revolutionary War records of the federal and state
governments, census records, and major indexes of records from eastern states. The
cataloging records for these materials also appear in this catalog.
In 1982, 1986, and 1992 the DAR Library published printed listings of its holdings entitled
DAR Library Catalog (3 volumes). This on-line catalog supersedes this printed set and
includes much additional information. The old printed set, however, is still valid because it
represents a large portion of the Library's book holdings and because the DAR Library
does not weed its collection. Since 1992, the Library has added another 30,000 titles
which are not listed in the printed catalogs.

51. DAR Library
Note: The DAR Library does not loan or sell any of the books listed in its
catalog, nor will the Library make photocopy reproductions of entire
books. The Library is strictly a reference facility. All researchers are
welcome to visit. The library resources are free to all visitors. Persons
who cannot visit the Library may wish to contact the DAR Library
Research Service at the above address for assistance.
The DAR Library also offers a research service to members and non-
members. Please consult the Search Service page for fees and
procedures. These may change if necessary and without prior notice.

52. Can I join the DAR?
Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent
from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is
eligible to join the DAR. She must provide documentation for each
statement of birth, marriage and death, as well as of the Revolutionary
War service of her Patriot ancestor.

53. How do I join the DAR?
To join the Elisha Roberts Chapter, please contact:
Michelle Christie, Chapter Registrar
mtchristie65@gmail.com

54. Thank you for allowing us to present this information to all of you.
Now, I am going to ask Michelle Christie to present the DAR’s
Genealogical Research System
– GRS for your review.

55. Sources:
www.dar.org
www.findagrave.com
Texas DAR