■^ .]^%- V -^ '^^S^i ^ • -7 --A^ i^ »•>... _Z>*T fcii'X* '^ .;' .^; *#^ SMt> il*' 1^^^;!!^. ^-s'-M**'-* •rj^Z ' it." wr ' > -oi t g ii xiiii s isaniix; I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, I Chap. X^.-iLD^/L- Shelf --i-A\^ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. iB National Society OF THE DAUGHTERS AMERICAN REVOLUTION OF THE ORGANIZED AT WASHINGTON, D. C. OCTOBER II, 1890 V Ol ^ GEDNEV A ROBERTS CO. NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE Daughters of the American Revolution. ORGANIZED AT WASHINGTON, D. C., OCTOBER ii, 1890. President General. MRS. BENJAMIN HARRISON. Vice-President General Presiding. Mrs. Wm. D. Cabei,i<. Vice-President General in Charge of Organization of Chapters. Mrs. H. V. BOYNTON, 1321 R Street. Vice-Presidents General. Mrs. T. H. Ai^exander. Mrs. Si'ephen J. Field. Mrs. a. W. Greely. Mrs. G. Brown Goode. Miss Mary Desha. Mrs. F. O. St. Clair. Mrs. Ellen H. Walworth. Mrs. John W. Foster. Mrs. Hugh Hagan. Mrs. John R. Putnam. Mrs. Henry Blount. Mrs. Roger A. Pryor. Mrs. Marshall MacDonald. Mrs. M. G. Devereux. Treasurer General. Mrs. O. H. Tittmann, loig 20th Street. Secretaries General. Recording : • Corresponding : Mrs. George H. Shields, Mrs. Rosa Wright Smith, 2019 N street. 1203 N Street. Registrars General. Miss Eugenia Washington, 813 13th street. Mrs. a. Howard Clarke, 1527 S street. Surgeon General. Miss Clara Barton. Historian General. Mrs. M. S. Lockwood, 810 12th street. Chaplain General. Mrs. Teunis S. Hamlin. The above Officers, with all State Regents, constitute the National Board. Advisory Board. Hon. Marshall MacDonald, Chairman. General H. V. Boynton. Mr. William D. Cabell. Dr. Persifor Frazer. Dr. G. Brown Goode. Rev. Edward Everett Hale. Mr. A. Leo Knott. Mr. Wm. O. McDowell. Hon. George H. Shields. General Marcus J. Wright. Mr. William C. Winlock. OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY. The National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution was organized in the City of Washington on October nth, 1890, the anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. The objects of this Society are — (i) To perpetuate the memory and the spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence, by the acquisition and protection of historical spots and the erection of monuments ; by the encouragement of historical research in relation to the Revolution and the publication of its results ; by the preservation of documents and relics, and of the records of the individual services of Revolu- tionary soldiers and patriots ; and by the promotion of celebrations of all patriotic anniversaries. (2) To carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American people, "to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge," thus developing an enlightened public opinion, and affording to young and old such advantages as shall develop in them the largest capacity for performing the duties of American citizens. (3) To cherish, maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country ; and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty. , ELIGIBILITY. The sole requisite for eligibility to membership in this patriotic and national Society is proven lineal descent from an ancestor who, with unfailing loyalty, rendered material aid to the cause of Independence as a recognized patriot, as soldier or sailor, or as a civil officer in one of the several Colonies or States, or of the United Colonies or States ; or from the mother of such a patriot ; provided that the applicant shall be at least eighteen years of age and acceptable to the Society. APPLICATIONS. Ladies desiring to become members of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution should send to either of the Registrars General for appli- cation blanks. These blanks, properly filled out in accordance with the directions printed upon them, with the recommendation of a member of the Society, should be returned to either of the Registrars General, who are responsible for them. At the same time, the amount due the National Society as stated in paragraph on "Fees and Dues" shall be sent to the Treasurer General. Applicants are requested to give their full name and address, and, if married, the full name and title of their husbands. The applications will be submitted to the National Board of Management, and, if accepted, a notification of election will be for- warded entitling the applicant to full participation in the work and privileges of the Society. No name shall be put on the membership roll until the initiation fee and annual dues have been paid. If the application is not acceptable, papers and money will be returned. \ NATIONAL BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. The management of the Society is committed to a Board composed of the active national officers and of one State Regent for each State or Territory. This Board is designated by the Constitution " The National Board of Management ; " it reports to and is subject to the Continental Congress, which meets February 22d in each year, and elects a new Board. All officers — National, State and Chapter — are subject to the control and direction of this National Board, and it has power to decide all disputed questions. ORGANIZATION. STATE REGENTS. The Vice-President in charge of organization of Chapters has authority to nominate one State Regent for each State and Territory for the first year. The Board must elect her before she can act as State Regent. After the first year the State Regent is elected by the delegates from her State to the Continental Congress. State Regents are members of the Continental Congress and of the National Board of Management, They have authority, subject to the approval of the Board, to appoint Chapter Regents when these have not been elected or appointed, and to form Chapters in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution. They are expected to cooperate in the work of organization with the Vice-President General in charge of the organization of Chapters. No other State officers are known to the Constitution as there are no State societies. There is one National Society, of which all are members. CHAPTER REGENTS OF ORGANIZED CHAPTERS Represent their respective Chapters in the Continental Congress. They can appoint the Chapter officers until October ii, 1892, after which all Chapter officers will be elected by the members. All Regents and officers, active and honorary, must be accepted members of the National Society before they can hold office of any kind. CHAPTERS. When twelve ladies living in one locality have been accepted as members of the National Society, they may, upon authorization of the Board of Management, obtained through the Vice-President General in charge of organization, form a Chapter and elect a Regent, Secretary, Registrar and such other officers as may be required uuder the Constitution of the Society. This organization shall report through its Chapter Regent to the Board, stating the names of the organizing members and officers, the name of Chapter and the date of organization, together -with a fee of five dollars to pay for the charter. Upon receipt of this report and of the fee, the Board will issue a charter, signed by the President and Secretary General. A Chapter can enact by-laws in harmony with the Constitution and By-Laws of the National Society, and can fix its annual dues. It reports directly and regularly to the National Board, sending duplicates of all reports to the State Regent. '•■ DELEGATES. Each Chapter, which has more than fifty members and less than seventy-five, may elect a delegate who shall represent the Chapter, in connection with the Regent, in the Continental Congress. If a Chapter has more than seventy-five and less than one hundred and twenty-five, it may elect two additional delegates, and so on, one delegate for each fifty members or fraction of not less than twenty-five. These delegates are to be elected on the nth day of October, 1S92, for the Con- gress of 1893, and so on, imless that day falls on Sunday, when they will be elected the next day. In case the Chapter Regents are unable to attend the Congress, the Chapter may elect a delegate in her place. The election of Chapter delegates to the Continental Congress must be certified by the Regent and Secretary, and such certificate will constitute their credentials when the Congress meets. FEES AND DUES. The initiation fee is one dollar ; the annual dues are two dollars, payable in advance in each year ; and life membership fee, twenty-five dollars. After the formation of Chapters, not before, one-half of the annual dues and one-half of the life membership fees may be retained for the Chapters, so that each person who applies for membership to the National Society direct shall send three dollars to the Treasurer General. After a Chapter is formed and the applications are * It will be observed from the foregoing that in order to facilitate the organization and extension of the Society in all the States and Territories of the Union, two methods of forming Chapters are allowed under the Constitution. One method contemplates the selection and appointment, by either the Vice-President Gen- eral in charge of the organization of Chapters or by the State Regent, of Chapter Regents, to whom authority is given to form Chapters in given localities, and to appoint officers for those Chapters until the nth of October, 1S92. The other method authorizes twelve members of the Society living in one locality to come together, to form a Chapter and elect a Regent and other officers, subject to the approval of the National Board. Both methods are legitimate and consistent with the spirit of the Constitution and of the Society. It is recommended that in all States where there is a State Regent, Chapters desiring to form will, as an act of courtesy, communicate their desire to the Vice-President General in charge of organization through the State Regent, who is an organizing officer, and who represents the State upon the Board of Management. forwarded through the Chapter, only two dollars need be sent to the Treasurer General. This rule also applies to life naembership fees. The expenses of the National Society are large, and unless these rules are observed the increase of fees and dues is inevitable, which the Board greatly desires to avoid. OFFICIAI, CIRCUIyARS. No officer of the National Society, nor State Regent, nor Chapter Regent is authorized to issue circulars in regard to the National Society or organization of Chapters without approval of the Board. This is necessary in order to preserve uniformity and to prevent conflict of authority. INCORPORATION. The National Society was incorporated June 8th, 1891, under the laws of Con- gress, and the Headquarters, or chief office, was definitely fixed at Washington, D. C. CONCLUSION. We cordially invite the Daughters of the Heroes of the Revolution to join with us and organize Chapters in every cit}', town and county in the United States, and build up an organization that will foster patriotism and education in the principles of our government everywhere, and preserve the traditions and unwritten history of the struggle for Independence. Copies of this circular and of the Constitution and general information will be furnished by the Corresponding Secretary, if desired, to any lady wishing to become a member. By order of the National Board of Management. M. V. E. CABELL, Vice-President General Presiding MARY L. SHIELDS, Recording Secretary General. ..^J£