Today's DAR
First, let me send my sincerest wishes that you and your families are healthy and weathering this crisis in good spirits. I know that it will affect each of us in varying ways, but we will get through this!
If you are on the frontline fighting COVID-19, thank you! If your life has been impacted by loss of any kind, our hearts are with you.
If, however, you suddenly have time on your hands and are looking for a way to spread some much-needed sunshine…the Lineage Research Committee may be just what you are looking for! Please check in with your Chapter Registrar to learn if you can assist her by researching a lineage question or lessening her burden in completing research for a prospective member.
Perhaps you know someone who would like to join but isn’t sure she has a qualifying ancestor – please check out the recently posted PowerPoint presentation, Beyond the Musket, which details the many different civil and patriotic acts that qualify as service as well as sources to search! You’ll find this presentation under Research Resources from the Lineage Research Committee page on the members’ website.
And, speaking of research resources, please review the Registrar General’s blast emails, “Sunrays,” for even more online resources and watch the outstanding webinar, Online Resources which can be found on the Webinars, Videos and Blogs page from the Genealogy tab.
Maybe you could help a prospective member who has African-American, French or Spanish ancestry? Our goal of increasing membership must include women of color, but many are not aware that they qualify for membership. Please check out these Specialty Research areas and the information available to assist you in your research efforts. Consider joining the Spanish Task Force to work on the objectives of this group and their efforts to help women of Spanish descent become DAR members. Stay tuned for updated information on researching women of Jewish ancestry!
While many local repositories are closed during the pandemic, you might be able to assist with online searches of documents in corners where others did not think to look. Consider becoming a part of our active Lineage Research Lookup Board (LRLB) to help respond to lineage research challenges. Use this board to request searches, too, but please know that courthouses and local repositories are closed/closing across the country so patience will be required.
For those of you on Facebook, please join the Lineage Research, NSDAR group where you can seek the experience and insights of others or offer your own! This is an active group and always willing to help, no matter what your level of skill in lineage research.
If you enjoy solving the toughest lineage research problems, please consider helping with our Cold Closed Cases Project. We can truly Rise and Shine for future prospective members by helping to resolve patriot records with codes: “Future Applicants Must Prove Correct Service/Lineage,” or “Treat as New Ancestor.”
I hope you are able to enjoy some aspect of Spring – the first sighting of a daffodil or a robin outside your window – as we endure this challenging time. We can each Rise and Shine for America by pursuing activities in Lineage Research that help us reach our chapter, state and Society membership goals!
