The Daughters of the American Revolution Collection, 1919-1969

Access and use

Location of collection:
Fairfax County Public Library
Fairfax County Public Library
City of Fairfax Regional Library
Virginia Room
10360 North Street
Fairfax, VA 22030-2514
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Chris Barbuschak
Phone: (703) 293-2142
Phone: (703) 293-6227 ext. 6 (Virginia Room)
Fax: (703) 293-2155

Summary

Extent:
.25 linear feet
Creator:
Virginia Room staff
Abstract:
The Daughters of the American Revolution Collection consists of .25 linear feet spanning the years 1919-1969 and consists of photocopies of military and non-military war service records of Fairfax County DAR Chapter members, photocopied photographs, and programs. Subjects include the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution - Fairfax County Chapter; District of Columbia Daughters of the American Revolution - Susan Riviere Chapter; Fairfax County veterans; and World War I.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Series 1: Military and Non-Military War Service Records of Fairfax County Chapter Members, 1919-1921

This series consists of photocopies of military and non-military war service records that were filled out by members and affiliates of the Fairfax County DAR Chapter who lived in the Fairfax County area. The service records contain biographical information, military service data and occasionally additional personal remarks or a photograph. Most of these men saw action in World War I. The records are organized alphabetically by surname.

Series 2: Programs, 1963-1969

This series consists of programs. One program is from the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Northside District of the NSDAR hosted by the Fairfax County Chapter on September 24, 1963 at the Vienna Presbyterian Church. The second program is from the dedication of the Susan Riviere Hetzel house in Clifton, Virginia hosted by the Susan Riviere Hetzel Chapter of the DCDAR. This particular chapter founded on April 5, 1911 merged with the Mary Washington Chapter on April 18, 1994.

Biographical / historical:

Mary Smith Lockwood, Ellen Hardin Walworth, Mary Desha, and George Washington’s great-grandniece, Eugenia Washington, founded The Daughters of the American Revolution in 1890 as a response to woman being refused to join the Sons of the American Revolution. Lockwood went on to organize the first District of Columbia chapter, the Mary Washington Chapter, in 1892. Congress incorporated the DAR in 1896.

Mary Frances Gibson organized the Fairfax County Chapter on October 14, 1905. After the Mount Vernon Chapter, the Fairfax County Chapter became the second chapter founded in Northern Virginia. Charter member Kate Strong Summy held the chapter’s first meeting in her Victorian house in Vienna, Virginia.

The organization is based in Washington D.C. and continues to be a non-profit volunteer based women’s service organization. With over 3,000 chapters and 177,000 members, their mission is to stimulate patriotism, preserve American history, and promote better education for children in the United States. Membership is open to any woman over 18 years old who can prove she is directly related to a patriot of the American Revolution.

Acquisition information:
Collection assembled by Virginia Room staff