Introducing Our Executive Officers: Registrar General

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as Registrar General 2025-2028. The Office of the Registrar General, with almost 50 highly trained genealogists, processes and verifies new and supplemental applications. It is a privilege to partner with you to Illuminate our Legacy during the Storage Administration.

My parents created a legacy of service for my brother and me by modeling volunteerism throughout their lifetimes. Sunday school teacher, hospital auxiliary ‘Pink Lady,’ school board director, city council member, room mother, and volunteer firefighter are just a few of their many service roles. One of my earliest memories, from about age four, is that of accompanying my mother as she volunteered at the hospital thrift shop.

As the first in my family to join DAR, I learned about our beloved Society through a neighbor. She was a genealogist, and after providing pointers on my research she casually mentioned, “You know you’re eligible for DAR, don’t you?” I did not. Her next words were, “Would you like to go to a meeting with me?” I am so thankful I accepted the invitation. Before leaving that meeting of the Elizabeth Crockett Chapter, NSDAR in Granbury, TX I had agreed to save cancelled stamps at the request of the chapter chair of the DAR Service for Veterans Committee and the chair for the DAR School Committee had my commitment to clip box tops for education. By asking me to do these simple things, those two chairs provided ways for me to contribute immediately to the work of the chapter. I felt needed. Shortly after my membership application was approved the chapter registrar resigned and I was appointed to fill the remainder of her term.

It was especially meaningful to prepare an application for my mother, followed by SAR applications for my dad and my brother. In time I prepared DAR applications for my sister-in-law, and two daughters-in-law, as well as C.A.R. applications for two granddaughters. It was a special joy to have granddaughters Sydney and Peyton serving as Personal Pages during my term as Texas State Regent, launching their own legacy of service.

My husband John has enthusiastically supported me throughout my years serving in various DAR positions. Although almost all his ancestors emigrated from Norway long after the Revolutionary War, he remains hopeful I will break through the research ‘brick wall’ in Pennsylvania that may be hiding his potential Patriot connection for SAR.

Although the neighbor who invited me to a meeting almost 25 years ago happened to be a genealogist, genealogy is not a pre-requisite for inviting someone to a meeting. Once an invitation is accepted, the volunteers of the DAR genealogy committees are ready to assist with the application process. By extending an invitation, you provide an opportunity for someone to illuminate the legacy of her Patriot ancestors and build her own legacy of meaningful service. Who in your family, or your circle of friends and acquaintances, can you invite to a meeting?