Learn More about the American Heritage Committee and its Contest

Let’s start with a little DAR trivia: Which committee combined with the American Heritage Committee in 1965? Established in 1963, the American Heritage Committee incorporated the American Music and Motion Picture Committee under its umbrella!

One year later, the Motion Picture Committee was “restored to National status, having been removed as a sub-committee under American Heritage.” Music remained, leaving us to preserve our rich American heritage in the fields of art, craft, drama, literature and music.

Our first National Chair, Evelyn Cole Peters, encouraged all Daughters to preserve our cultural arts through the opening of local museums and historical societies. She stated “these will work toward the preservation of the treasures of the past.” Having local repositories to house our quilts, our crafts, our literature - all at the community level - is tremendous. How many ladies heeded her call to action and formed an historical society? As of today, we have hundreds, if not thousands, of local museums and historical societies.

Your American Heritage team has put together a short 5-minute video that provides more ideas for this year’s contest. Please contact your American Heritage Committee State Chair or Division Vice Chair for more information and to see this video.

True to our history, the National Headquarters buildings (Memorial Continental Hall, Constitution Hall and the Administrative Building) are continuously under-going historic restoration projects to keep the buildings functioning and up to historic preservation standards. The VanBuren Administration has walked us through one of the most expensive and amazing restoration projects of our long history. I invite each of you to treasure that moment in history as you absorb your view of this transformation in DAR Constitution Hall. From the floors to the walls to the ceiling, and everything in between, the restoration is a complete success thanks to the vision of our leaders and the help of each individual in our society. Our founders would be proud!

Again, I encourage you to consider creating an entry for our American Heritage Contest as we “Rise, and Shine Your Light on Our House Beautiful.” Entries are being accepted by our National Vice Chairs from January 2 through February 15, with Fiber Arts entries going to the State Chair by her due date. Please see our entry form and website for more details as we Rise and Shine for America.