Today's DAR
The Daughters of the American Revolution is dedicated to its mission of preserving history, educating future generations, and honoring those who served our country and supported the founding of the United States. As part of this mission, we continue to build upon extensive genealogical resources to ensure broader audiences have access to resources that uncover their ancestry. The DAR encourages you to embark on a journey to discover and honor the diverse heritage of all Patriots who contributed to American independence.
Preservation, Education, Honor and Celebration during Black History Month
As we celebrate Black History Month, we are proud to highlight DAR’s extensive genealogical tools, resources, and collaborations; introduce our upcoming DAR Museum exhibit – Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence; and celebrate the individual legacies of the many Black Patriots featured in the DAR’s E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative and Patriots of Color Database.
DAR’s Commitment to Education
Researching African American lineage from the Revolutionary War era presents unique challenges, but DAR is dedicated to making these stories accessible and available. In the past decade, we have made significant strides to expand access to data, resources, and information about African Americans in the early days of the country to assist those searching for answers to family history questions. View the DAR’s E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative’s Resources page for a list of helpful information and links.
To highlight the contributions of Black Patriots during the Revolutionary War, the African American Genealogical Research at the DAR Library pathfinding document helps to navigate reference sources and is a wonderful first step to finding historical records in the DAR Library. The Specialty Research Committee and the African American Research team are also available to assist with genealogical questions you may have!
The DAR Patriots of Color Database makes finding names of African American and Native American Patriots more accessible, with more names and details of Patriots being added each year! In October 2024, the DAR Patriots of Color Database was additionally included as a part of American Ancestors’ 10 Million Names initiative, specifically as a part of their “On the Battlefield” project that focuses on Black soldiers in United States wars.
In addition to our collaboration with 10 Million Names, DAR was proud to sponsor three fellow lineage & genealogical society conferences that focus on African American genealogy:
- In May 2024, DAR was proud to be a Platinum Sponsor for the Society of the First African Families of English America annual conference held at the Museum of the American Revolution. DAR representatives and members attended and participated in panel discussions during the event.
- In June 2024, DAR sponsored the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage Conference and Awards Banquet.
- In October 2024, DAR was a Platinum Sponsor for the 45th Annual Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) Conference. DAR representatives and members attended the conference, hosted a virtual booth for attendees to learn more about the DAR, and held a virtual DAR member and prospective member meet up for attendees to mingle and ask questions.
By expanding access to DAR resources and collaborating with other genealogical organizations, descendants can connect with their ancestors and ensure their stories are everlasting.
Historic Preservation with the DAR Museum
The DAR Museum is preparing to open their new exhibition next month. On March 29, 2025, the DAR Museum’s Fighting for Freedom exhibition will kick off a multi-year, multi-location engagement. This exhibition will highlight the skill and artistry of Black craftspeople from the 18th and early 19th centuries. These artisans—many of whom were enslaved or recently emancipated—contributed to the economy and culture of the new nation through woodworking, metalwork, textiles, and other trades.
Notably, this exhibit will serve as a traveling exhibition over the next few years allowing a broader audience to engage with this important history. Many of the artifacts showcased are on loan from esteemed institutions, such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Tennessee State Museum, Museum of Fine Art, Houston, and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. More information about the exhibit, including a list of travel locations and lending institutions can be found on the DAR Museum section of our website.
I invite you to explore our research tools and collaborations, learn about the upcoming exhibition, and take part in the journey of discovering and celebrating Black Patriots by sharing their stories.
