Sons of the American Revolution

The Sons of the American Revolution, formally the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR), is a United States patriotic, hereditary, genealogical, educational, and historical-preservation organization. It brings together men who can document direct male or female-line descent from an individual who supported American independence during the Revolutionary era through qualifying military, civil, or patriotic service. Although membership is hereditary, the Society’s activities extend well beyond lineage recognition: it promotes historical research, civic education, preservation of Revolutionary-era memory, youth scholarship and essay programs, public-service recognition, historical commemorations, and cooperation with educational, veterans’, and civic organizations. The national organization was established on April 30, 1889, at Fraunces Tavern in New York City by William Osborne McDowell. McDowell had sought to establish a New Jersey branch of the older Sons of the Revolution but disagreed with that organization’s governance model, under which state societies were subordinate to the New York Society. He instead organized an independent national society with state and local bodies operating within a broader national framework. The SAR also traces institutional continuity to the Sons of Revolutionary Sires, a California lineage organization founded in 1876 during the United States centennial celebrations. The Society’s membership standard requires documented proof of descent from a qualifying Patriot ancestor. Acceptable service may include service in the Continental or state armed forces, naval service, recognized civil office, participation in committees supporting independence, provision of supplies or transportation, allegiance activities, wartime taxation, and other documented contributions. The Society can recognize qualifying Patriots of different genders and backgrounds, including women, African Americans, Native Americans, and foreign allies, provided the historical service and lineage evidence meet its standards. Applications generally move through a local chapter, state society, and the national organization for review. SAR is structured as a national society with districts, state societies, international societies, and local chapters. It reports more than 500 chapters and tens of thousands of members across the United States and several overseas societies. Its programs include youth contests and scholarships, awards for civic and public service, Color Guard activities, genealogical assistance, historical interpretation, and observances connected with the Constitution, the flag, and the Bill of Rights. The organization publishes SAR Magazine, annual proceedings, and historical and genealogical materials. The Society received a federal congressional charter on June 9, 1906, under Title 36 of the United States Code. The charter was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, who was also a member. SAR is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, where it operates the SAR Genealogical Research Library and maintains Revolutionary-era artifacts and plans for education and museum facilities. It is not a commercial consumer brand; its public identity is that of a membership-based heritage institution whose principal value lies in historical documentation, fellowship, education, commemoration, and civic engagement.

The Society emerged from the late nineteenth-century growth of hereditary and patriotic organizations devoted to preserving the memory of the American Revolution. One important precursor was the Sons of Revolutionary Sires, founded in San Francisco on July 4, 1876, during the centennial celebrations of American independence. That organization later affiliated with the national SAR and became the foundation of the California Society’s lineage. Another predecessor was the Sons of the Revolution, founded in New York City in 1876 by John Austin Stevens. Stevens favored a model with substantial authority concentrated in the New York Society. William Osborne McDowell attempted to create a New Jersey branch of that organization in 1889 but objected to the requirement that state societies remain subordinate to New York. He advocated a more broadly organized national body for descendants of people who had supported American independence. On April 30, 1889, the centennial of George Washington’s first inauguration, McDowell organized the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution at Fraunces Tavern in New York City. The new Society developed a national structure supported by state societies and local chapters. McDowell later assisted in the formation of the Daughters of the American Revolution, creating parallel hereditary organizations for men and women associated with Revolutionary ancestry. State societies were established rapidly around the country, while early publications recorded membership, qualifying ancestors, organizational rules, and historical research. The Society’s purpose expanded from hereditary fellowship into public education, historical commemoration, genealogy, preservation, and civic recognition. Its programs helped promote national observances associated with the Constitution, the flag, and the Bill of Rights, while local chapters developed ceremonies, lectures, awards, youth competitions, and Color Guard activities. A major institutional milestone came on June 9, 1906, when Congress granted the National Society a federal charter under Title 36 of the United States Code. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the charter and was himself a member. The charter confirmed the Society’s national civic and historical character while preserving its membership-based structure. During the twentieth century, SAR expanded through the formation of additional chapters and state organizations. Its publications, annual National Congress proceedings, genealogical records, and library resources supported both family-history research and broader study of the Revolutionary era. Membership grew from roughly 4,000 reported members around 1900 to more than 10,000 by the mid-1920s and above 20,000 by the early 1960s, according to historical organizational reports. A 2006 congressional charter amendment referred to more than 27,000 members. In the twenty-first century, the Society has continued to combine hereditary membership with public-facing education and inclusion efforts. Research and chapter activities increasingly document the contributions of women, free and enslaved African Americans, Native Americans, and foreign allies who supported the Patriot cause. Chapters such as the Isaac Carter Chapter in North Carolina, the Abraham Brown Chapter in Virginia, and the Nansemond Indian Patriots Chapter illustrate efforts to recognize a wider range of Revolutionary participants when evidence supports their service. Today, SAR operates as a nonprofit, federally chartered national society headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Its structure includes the national organization, regional districts, state societies, international societies, and local chapters. Its principal institutional resources include the SAR Genealogical Research Library, Revolutionary-era artifacts, publications, educational programs, youth competitions, commemorative events, and plans for expanded education and museum facilities. The organization remains active, with its identity centered on documented ancestry, historical stewardship, civic education, and patriotic service.

• 2006

  Federal charter amendment recognized expanded membership

  [1]Sons of the American Revolutionen.wikipedia.org

  A congressional amendment referred to the Society as having more than 27,000 members.

• 1906

  Congressional charter granted

  [1]Sons of the American Revolutionen.wikipedia.org

  Congress granted the Society a federal charter under Title 36, signed by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 9.

• 1889

  National Society organized at Fraunces Tavern

  [1]Sons of the American Revolutionen.wikipedia.org

  William Osborne McDowell founded the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution in New York City on April 30.

• 1876

  Sons of Revolutionary Sires founded

  [1]Sons of the American Revolutionen.wikipedia.org

  A California hereditary organization was established during the United States centennial celebrations and later became part of the SAR’s institutional lineage.

A national hereditary society and educational institution preserving the memory of the American Revolution while connecting documented descendants through genealogy, civic programs, public commemorations, and historical research.

• Hereditary membership · 1889

  SAR Membership

  Membership is available to men who document direct descent from a person who provided qualifying military, civil, or patriotic service in support of American independence. Applications are typically prepared with chapter assistance, reviewed by state societies, and submitted for national approval. The Society also permits supplemental applications for additional Patriot ancestors.

• Research and archival services

  SAR Genealogical Research Library

  The Louisville-based library supports research into Revolutionary-era service, family lineage, historical records, and membership applications. It forms part of the Society’s broader role as a genealogical and historical institution and supports members, chapters, and researchers studying Patriot ancestors.

• Education

  Youth programs and scholarships

  SAR national, state, and local organizations sponsor competitions, scholarships, and recognition programs for students. Activities commonly emphasize Revolutionary history, constitutional principles, public speaking, civic understanding, and essay writing, extending the Society’s mission beyond hereditary membership.

• Publishing

  SAR Magazine and historical publications

  The Society publishes a quarterly magazine together with National Congress proceedings, yearbooks, genealogical resources, and other historical material. These publications document organizational activities, members, research, commemorations, and developments in the study of the American Revolution.

• Historical and civic programs

  Color Guard and commemorative programs

  Local and state societies use Color Guard units, ceremonies, memorial events, lectures, and public appearances to interpret the Revolutionary period and participate in civic observances. These activities provide a visible public expression of the Society’s patriotic and educational mission.

• Youth scholarship and civic education programs

  United States · International societies

  National, state, and chapter organizations conduct student contests, scholarships, and educational activities focused on Revolutionary history, constitutional government, public speaking, and civic responsibility.

  Outcome. The programs extend SAR’s reach to students and schools and reinforce its educational mission.

  Source
• Patriot ancestor recognition and inclusion initiatives

  United States

  Genealogical and chapter initiatives have highlighted documented Patriots who were women, African Americans, Native Americans, and members of foreign allied communities, including the creation of chapters associated with Isaac Carter, Abraham Brown, and Nansemond Indian Patriots.

  Outcome. These efforts broaden the historical record used in SAR education and membership work while retaining the Society’s evidentiary requirements.

  Source

• 1906

  Secure a federal congressional charterOther

  Background

  The national organization sought formal federal recognition of its historical and civic purposes.

  Action taken

  Congress granted the Society a charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.

  Aftermath

  The charter established a durable federal legal status for the national society.

  Source

• 1889

  Create an independent national hereditary societyStrategy

  Background

  William Osborne McDowell objected to the governance structure of the Sons of the Revolution, which placed state societies under the New York Society.

  Action taken

  He organized the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution with a national, state, and chapter structure.

  Aftermath

  The new organization developed into a nationwide patriotic and genealogical society distinct from the Sons of the Revolution.

  Source

• 1906

  Sons of the American Revolution receives federal congressional charter[1]Sons of the American Revolutionen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The National Society received a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code; the act was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, a Society member.

• SAR broadens recognition of historically underrepresented Patriots[2]National Society of the Sons of the American Revolutionsar.org

  Other

  The Society has supported chapters and genealogical initiatives recognizing documented African American, Native American, and women Patriots and their descendants.

1. 1Sons of the American Revolutionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2National Society of the Sons of the American Revolutionsar.org