National Motto:

God, Home and Country

National Theme:

"The Spirit of Hospitality Opens Doors of Opportunity"

President General's Symbol

Pineapple

The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children.

DAR members volunteer more than 60,000 hours annually to veteran patients, award over $150,000 in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and support schools for the underprivileged with annual donations exceeding one million dollars.

As one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country, DAR boasts 168,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally. Any woman 18 years or older-regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background-who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership.

Encompassing an entire downtown city block, DAR National Headquarters houses one of the nation's premier genealogical libraries, one of the foremost collections of pre-industrial American decorative arts, Washington's largest concert hall, and an extensive collection of early American manuscripts and imprints.

Source: National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

DAR FACTS 

Founded:

October 11, 1890

Incorporated 1896 by an Act of Congress

Objectives:

Historic Preservation

Patriotism

Education

Membership:

168,000 Members

3,000 Chapters in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.; International chapters in Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom; More than 180,000 women have joined the DAR since it was founded

Eligibility for Membership:

Any woman, 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.

National Management

President General: Linda Gist Calvin

The National Society is led by the President General and an Executive Committee of 11 National Officers. In addition to rulings by the Executive Committee, policy for the Society is made by the National Board of Management, a body composed of the Executive Officers, 21 Vice Presidents General, and 53 State Regents. The National Board of Management meets six times a year at DAR headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Most of DAR's volunteer work is accomplished under a committee system comprised of a national chairman appointed by the President General and locally appointed state and chapter chairmen. The national chairmen direct and supervise the activities of their committees with the assistance of the national vice chairmen.

Continental Congress, the DAR annual national meeting, is named after the original Continental Congress which governed the American Colonies. DAR Continental Congress attracts more than 3,000 members to Washington, D.C., each year.