Continental Hall
DAR Headquarters —
Memorial Continental Hall
Washington, D.C.

Membership

Who Can Join the DAR?

DAR Library
Since its founding in 1896,
the DAR Library has grown
into a specialized collection
of American genealogical
and historical manuscripts
and publications.

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, or ancestors who contributed to the independence cause via donations of goods or support, is eligible for membership. She must provide documentation for each statement of birth, marriage, and death.

Membership in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a unique opportunity to honor your lineage and heritage as a descendant of a patriot of the American Revolution. Our registrar and Lineage Research Committee will help you locate and document your Patriot's service in order to prepare your application.

  • Military Service — Service in the Continental Army or Navy, Marines, state or local militias and privateers.
  • Civil Service — Those who conducted the business of new federal, state, county and town governments and displayed loyalty to the cause.
  • Patriotic Service — Those whose actions demonstrated unfailing loyalty to the cause as a prisoner of war, doctor or nurse, minister, signer of an Oath of Allegiance, member of a committee, furnishing supplies or many other actions.

A Patriot is anyone, both men and women, who supported the cause for American independence through military, civil, or patriotic service that must have occurred during the period between April 19, 1775, and November 26, 1783. For a list of acceptable services, see the Accepted Revolutionary War Service page for more information.

Feel free to review the NSDAR membership page for further details. Learn more about DAR and how to easily begin the membership process.

The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.