The New Student's Reference Work/Daughters of the American Revolution

Daughters of the American Revolution, a patriotic society organized by and for women, Oct. 11, 1890, with headquarters in the City of Washington and to-day having a membership in the various chapters of the order throughout the states, territories and dependencies of the Union, as well as in England, Canada and South Africa.  The design of the society is to perpetuate the memory of those who took part in achieving American independence, to collect and preserve relics of the historic era and to erect monuments of notable patriots on eligible historic sites.  Membership in the society is restricted to “women who are lineal descendants of an ancestor who was a military, naval or marine officer, soldier, sailor or marine in actual service under the authority of any of the 13 colonies or states or of the Continental Congress and remained always loyal to such authority, or descendants of one who signed the Declaration of Independence, or one who, as a member of the Continental Congress or the congress of any of the colonies or states or as an officer appointed by or under the authority of any such representative bodies, actually assisted in the establishment of American independence by service rendered during the War of the Revolution, becoming thereby liable to conviction of treason against the government of Great Britain, but remained loyal to the authority of the colonies or states.”  The society is incorporated, publishes a monthly periodical, and, besides its headquarters at the national capital, has chapters throughout the country, with a total membership (1908) of over 40,500.