DAR Constitution Hall

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership organization of women^[1] dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. DAR Constitution Hall is a Concert hall in Washington DC It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention Genealogy (from Greek: el γενεά el-Latn genea, "descent" and el λόγος el-Latn logos, "knowledge" is the study of Historic preservation or heritage conservation is a professional endeavor that seeks to preserve the ability of older (e Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency Patriotism is commonly defined as love of and/or devotion to one's country 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. A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D There are also DAR chapters in Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located 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. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A congressional charter is a law passed by the United States Congress that states the mission authority and activities of a group Year 1896 ( MDCCCXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year

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. An ancestor is a Parent or ( recursively) the parent of an ancestor (i The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4 1776 announcing that the thirteen American colonies then 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 French Revolution 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. The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4 1776 announcing that the thirteen American colonies then In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary Citizens to provide defense emergency law enforcement or Paramilitary service A privateer was a private Warship authorized by a country's Government by Letters of marque to attack foreign shipping The military history of France encompasses an immense panorama of conflicts and struggles extending for more than 2000 years across areas including modern France, greater The military history of Spain includes the history of battles fought in the territory of modern Spain, as well as her former and current overseas possessions and territories See also Bureaucrat The term civil service has two distinct meanings Branch of governmental service in which individuals are hired on the basis The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the An oath of allegiance is an Oath whereby a subject or Citizen acknowledges his/her duty of Allegiance and swears loyalty to his Monarch The Boston Tea Party was an act of Direct action protest by the American colonists against the British Government in which they destroyed many ^[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 would not qualify through this adoptive parent, though she may qualify through the bloodline of her birth parent. Adoption is the act of legally placing a child with a Parent or parents other than those to whom they were born

Educational outreach

DAR schools

The DAR gives over $1 million annually to support six schools that provide for a variety of special needs. ^[2]

American history essay contest

Each year, the DAR conducts a national American history essay contest among students in grades 5 through 8. A topic is selected for use during the academic year, and essays are judged "for historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness. " The contest is conducted locally by the DAR chapters, and chapter winners are judged regionally and nationally, with national winners receiving a monetary award. ^[3]

Scholarships

The DAR awards $150,000 per year in scholarships to high school, undergraduate, graduate, music, law, nursing, and medical school students. Only two of the 20 scholarships offered are restricted to DAR members or their descendants. ^[4]

Literacy promotion

In 1989, the DAR established the NSDAR Literacy Promotion Committee, which coordinates the efforts of DAR volunteers to promote child and adult literacy. Volunteers teach English, tutor reading, prepare students for GED examinations, raise funds for literacy programs, and participate in many other ways. ^[5]

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. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa DAR Constitution Hall is a Concert hall in Washington DC It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[6] In 1936, Sol Hurok, manager of African-American contralto Marian Anderson since 1935, attempted to book Anderson at Constitution Hall. Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sol Hurok ( Solomon Isiaevich Hurok; born Solomon Izrailevich Gurkov Russian Соломон Израилевич Гурков ( April 9, 1888 African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Marian Anderson (February 27 1897 – April 8 1993 was an American Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. DAR Constitution Hall is a Concert hall in Washington DC It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention 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. First Lady of the United States is the unofficial title of the hostess of the White House. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (ˈɛlɪnɔr ˈroʊzəvɛlt October 11 1884 &ndash November 7 1962 Eleanor had publicly resigned from the DAR when she heard that Marian Anderson was banned. During this time, Anderson came under considerable pressure from the NAACP to not perform for segregated audiences. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is one of the oldest and most influential Civil rights organizations ^[7]

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 declined by the DAR. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Howard University is a private, Coeducational Nonsectarian University located in Washington D 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 DAR President, refused to allow Anderson to perform there. District of Columbia Public Schools ( DCPS) is the traditional public school system of Washington D ^[7] 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,^[8]

DAR president Mrs. Henry M. Robert, Jr. , sent the First Lady the following reply:

My dear Mrs. First Lady is a term used in the United States to describe the wife of an elected male Head of state. 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^[9]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, ^[10]

Hurok and the NAACP again appealed to the DAR, and were again refused. ^[11]

The DAR later apologized and welcomed Ms. Anderson to Constitution Hall on a number of occasions after 1939, including a benefit concert for war relief in 1942. DAR Constitution Hall is a Concert hall in Washington DC It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention A benefit concert is a Concert, show or gala featuring musicians comedians or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose often directed at a specific ^[12] However, they did not officially reverse their "whites only" policy until 1952. ^[13] Ms. Anderson chose Constitution Hall as the place where she would launch her farewell American tour in 1964. ^[14] 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. Events 98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Anderson's family. ^[15]

Ferguson controversy

In March 1984, a new controversy erupted when Lena Lorraine Santos Ferguson said she had been denied membership in a Washington, D.C. chapter of the DAR because she was black. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D

In a March 12, 1984 Washington Post story,^[16] reporter Ronald Kessler quoted Ferguson’s two white sponsors, Margaret M. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Ronald Borek Kessler (born December 31, 1943) is an American journalist and author Johnston and Elizabeth E. Thompson, as saying that although Ferguson met the lineage requirements and could trace her ancestry to Jonah Gay, who helped the Revolutionary War effort as a member of a Friendship, Maine, town committee, fellow DAR members told them that Ferguson was not wanted because she was black. Friendship is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 1204 at the 2000 census

What caused a sensation was a quote from Sarah M. King, the president general of the DAR. King told Kessler that each of the DAR’s more than 3,000 local chapters decides if it wishes to accept members.

Asked if the DAR considers discrimination against blacks by its local chapters to be acceptable, she said, “If you give a dinner party, and someone insisted on coming and you didn’t want them, what would you do?”

King continued, “Being black is not the only reason why some people have not been accepted into chapters. There are other reasons: divorce, spite, neighbors’ dislike. I would say being black is very far down the line. . . There are a lot of people who are troublemakers. You wouldn’t want them in there because they could cause some problems. ”

After those comments ran in a page one story and ignited a firestorm, the D. C. City Council threatened to revoke the DAR’s real estate tax exemption. As more publicity erupted, King acknowledged that Ferguson should have been admitted and said her application to join the DAR was handled “inappropriately. ”

Representing Ferguson free of charge, lawyers from the old line Washington law firm of Hogan & Hartson began working with King to develop positive ways of ensuring that blacks will not be discriminated against when applying for membership. Founded in 1904 Hogan & Hartson is the oldest major law firm headquartered in Washington D

The DAR changed its bylaws to bar discrimination “on the basis of race or creed. ” King announced a resolution to recognize “the heroic contributions of black patriots in the American Revolution. ”

As a result of the Washington Post story, not only was Ferguson, a retired school secretary, admitted to the DAR, she became chairman and founder of the D. C. DAR Scholarship Committee

Ferguson died in March 2004 at the age of 75.

“I wanted to honor my mother and father as well as my black and white heritage,” Mrs. Ferguson told Kessler after being admitted. “And I want to encourage other black women to embrace their own rich history, because we’re all Americans. ”

Notable DAR members

Historical members

Daughters of the American Revolution monument to the Battle of Fort Washington, marred by graffiti, located under the approach deck of the George Washington Bridge, New York City. Background Fort Washington was a fort located at the northernmost tip and highest elevation of what is now the borough of Manhattan in New York City The George Washington Bridge (known informally as the GW Bridge, the GWB, the GW, or the George) is a Suspension bridge spanning The City of New York Erected in 1910.

• Susan B. Anthony, American suffragist^[17]
• Clara Barton, American Red Cross founder^[17]
• Lillian Gish, American actress (Nee De Giche; Canadian born; Toronto)^[17]
• Grandma Moses, American folk artist^[17]
• Ginger Rogers, American actress and dancer^[17]
• Caroline Scott Harrison, former First Lady of the United States^[17]
• Infanta Eulalia of Spain, Spanish princess and author
• Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science church

Living members

• Suzanne Bishopric, treasurer of the United Nations
• Dr. Susan Brownell Anthony ( February 15, 1820 &ndash March 13, 1906) was a prominent American Civil rights leader who played Clarissa Harlowe Barton (December 25 1821 &ndash April 12 1912 was a pioneer American Teacher, Nurse, and Humanitarian. Lillian Diana Gish ( October 14 1893 – February 27 1993) was an American stage screen and television actress whose Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Anna Mary Robertson Moses ( September 7 1860 &ndash December 13 1961) better known as " Grandma Moses " was a renowned Ginger Rogers ( July 16, 1911 &ndash April 25, 1995) was an Academy Award -winning American film and stage actress Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison ( October 1, 1832 &ndash October 25, 1892) wife of Benjamin Harrison, was First Lady of Infanta Eulalia of Spain ( 12 February 1864 - 8 March 1958) was a Spanish infanta known for her controversial books Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science Betsy Boze, American Academic -- Chief Executive Officer and Dean, Kent State University Stark^[18]
• Laura Bush, current First Lady of the United States
• Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady of the United States, activist
• Elizabeth Dole, current US Senator from North Carolina
• Janet Reno, former Attorney General of the United States

References in popular culture

In the tv-show Gilmore Girls, the character Emily Gilmore is a member of the DAR and inducts her granddaughter Rory Gilmore, who works for the DAR in some episodes during season 6 of the series. Betsy Vogel Boze (pronounced Bōz is an American academic and university administrator Kent State University Stark Campus (also known as Kent State University Stark Kent State Stark or Kent Stark) is a public liberal arts university Laura Lane Welch Bush (born November 4 1946 is the wife of the forty-third and current President of the United States, George W Eleanor Rosalynn Smith Carter (born August 18 1927 is the wife of former United States President Jimmy Carter and was First Lady of the United States Mary Elizabeth Hanford "Liddy" Dole (born July 29 1936 is an American politician who served in both the Ronald Reagan and George H Janet Reno (born July 21, 1938) was the Attorney General of the United States ( 1993 &ndash 2001) Gilmore Girls was an Emmy Award -winning Golden Globe -nominated American Comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino This is a list of characters for the Comedy-drama Television series Gilmore Girls. This is a list of characters for the Comedy-drama Television series Gilmore Girls.

In the tv show The West Wing, the character of Zoey Bartlet, daughter of President Josiah Bartlet, is inducted as a member of the DAR in the season 4 episode "Privateers". Zoey Patricia Bartlet is a Fictional character played by Elisabeth Moss on the Television serial Drama The West Wing Dr Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a Fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the Television serial Drama In the same episode, First Lady Abigail Bartlet has her membership of the DAR challenged on the grounds that her qualifying ancestor was a pirate rather than a "privateer". Abigail Anne 'Abbey' Barrington Bartlet MD is a Fictional character played by Stockard Channing on the Television serial Drama

The American rock and roll band the Black Crowes released a single circa January 2008 titled "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution". Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African The Black Crowes are an American, blues -oriented Hard rock Jam band that has sold over 20 million albums

Grant Wood used D. Grant DeVolson Wood ( February 13, 1891 &ndash February 12, 1942) was an American painter, born in Anamosa, A. R. for the subject matter in his 1932 satirical painting Daughters of Revolution. Wood was dissatisfied with the elitism and class distinction that was dominant in the group in the 1930's.

See also

This list contains related US organizations. There are at least 2 related organizations in Canada not shown that are similar to the DAR and SAR.

• The Colonial Dames of America
• The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
• Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)
• Children of the American Revolution (C. The Colonial Dames of America is an American organization composed of women who are descended from an ancestor who lived in British-America from 1607-1775 and was The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America is an American organization composed of women who are descended from an ancestor "who came to reside in an American The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution ( SAR) is a Louisville Kentucky -based Fraternal organization in the United States The Children of the American Revolution (CAR was founded in 1895 by Harriett Lothrop. A. R. )
• The Mayflower Society
• Daughters of the Republic of Texas
• DAR Constitution Hall (a building owned by the society)
• United Daughters of the Confederacy
• Sons of Confederate Veterans
• Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
• The Jamestowne Society
• The Daughters of the American Colonists
• The Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century
• The Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Chirurgiens

Further reading

• Bailey, Diana L. The Society of Mayflower Descendants is a hereditary organization of individuals who have documented their descent from one or more of the 102 passengers who arrived on the The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT is a sororal association dedicated to perpetuating the memory of Texas pioneer families and soldiers of the Republic of Texas DAR Constitution Hall is a Concert hall in Washington DC It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention The United Daughters of the Confederacy ( UDC) is a sororal association dedicated to honoring the memory of those who served and died in service to the Confederate States Sons of Confederate Veterans ( SCV) is an organization Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW is an American fraternal organization, the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR American Treasure: The Enduring Spirit of the DAR. 2007. Walsworth Publishing Company.
• Hunter, Ann Arnold. A Century of Service: The Story of the DAR. 1991, Washington, DC. National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
• Strayer, Martha. The D. A. R. : An Informal History. 1958, Washington, DC. Public Affairs Press. (critically reviewed by Gilbert Steiner as covering personalities but not politics, Review, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, v. 320, "Highway Safety and Traffic Control" (Nov. 1958), pp. 148-49. )

External links

• Daughters of the American Revolution website
• Daughters of the American Revolution at americanrevolution.com
• Daughters of the American Revolution at the Open Directory Project
• Daughters of the American Revolution (David Reese Chapter) Collection (MUM00098) owned by the University of Mississippi. The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory

Notes

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. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone