James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Massanutton Chapter Records
Daughters of the American Revolution. Massanutton Chapter (Harrisonburg, Va.)
SC 0076
/repositories/4/resources/414
3.56 cubic feet
10 Boxes
1895-2016
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Massanutton Chapter Records, 1895-2016, consist of ten boxes. It consists of the official papers of the chapter and has been arranged into four series: Minutes, Yearbooks, Subject files, and Scrapbooks and Ephemera.
English
Access Restrictions
Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], [box #, folder #], National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Massanutton Chapter Records, 1895-2016, SC 0076, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information
The collection was placed on deposit by contract signed by Mrs. Mildred Onsgard, Regent, on November 6, 1985; additions through 2016. The collection was officially donated to Special Collections in April 2017.
Processing Information
Acid-free interleaving paper was used extensively in minute books to buffer text from newspaper clippings; archival tape was used to mount loose clippings on bond paper; and the most brittle single sheets were placed into Mylar sleeves. In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 2001.
Administrative Information
In the summer of 1895, a group of prominent Harrisonburg and Rockingham County women met to form a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The group was organized and chartered as the Massanutton Chapter in 1897, with Mrs. John Paul as Regent. The name "Massanutton" and its spelling have been a topic of interest on several occasions through the years.
It has been an active chapter, participating and often initiation public celebrations of such annual patriotic remembrances as Flag Day, George Washington's Birthday, and Constitution Week. The chapter contributed to several national war efforts over the decades, as well as to local endeavors such as equipping a room in the Hospital. It has placed several historical markers in the area, and sponsors programs and essay contests in local schools to stimulate an appreciation for American history. In the 1960s and 70s, members compiled several lists of otherwise unnoted county graveyards (A Record of Burial Places in Rockingham County, Va.; Church and Family Cemeteries, Eastern Section, Rockingham County, Va.); produced a unique list of inns titled Ordinaries of Rockingham County and Harrisonburg, Va. 1778-1855; and compiled Revolutionary Soldiers, Rockingham County, Va. These works were sent to the Virginia State Library. Also in recent years, the chapter has held a ceremony after naturalization proceedings to welcome new citizens.
Scope and Content
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Massanutton Chapter Records, 1897-2016, consist of ten boxes, approximately 3.56 cubic feet. It consists of the official papers of the chapter and has been arranged into four series: Minutes, Yearbooks, Subject Files, and Scrapbooks and Ephemera.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in four series. Series 1, Series 2, and Series 4 are arranged chronologically. Series 3 is arranged alphabetically by subject.
- Minutes, 1895-2011
- Yearbooks, 1912-2015
- Subject Files, 1897-2016
- Scrapbooks, 1922-1981
Soldiers -- Virginia -- Rockingham County -- Register
Soldiers -- Virginia -- Biography
Soldiers -- United States -- Registers
Taverns (Inns) -- Virginia -- Rockingham County
Taverns (Inns) -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg
Historic buildings -- Virginia -- Rockingham County
Cemeteries -- Virginia -- Rockingham County
American essays
Flag Day
Festivals -- United States
Holidays -- United States
Virginia -- Genealogy
Virginia -- Emigration and immigration
Rockingham County (Va.) -- Genealogy
United States -- Centennial celebrations, etc.
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
United States -- Genealogy
Minutes (administrative records)
Yearbooks
Letters (correspondence)
Scrapbooks
United States (Title of work: Constitution.)
Daughters of the American Revolution. Massanutton Chapter (Harrisonburg, Va.)
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Minutes1/repositories/4/archival_objects/42711895-2011EnglishScope and ContentSeries 1: Minutes, 1895-2011 consists of minute books and loose minutes spanning 1895-2011. The minutes are notations of regular meetings of the Massanutton chapter of the NSDAR. The minutes initially are stored in specific bound notebooks through the 1967-1981 book. Beginning with the 1979-1983, the minutes are written or printed on loose forms of paper rather than being bound. This continues until the end of the series.
Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42761895-190311Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42771904-190712Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42781907-191113Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42791915-192114Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42801922-192715Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42811927-192916Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42821930-193217Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42831933-193518Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42841935-193819Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42851938-194221Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42861942-195322Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42871953-196123Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42881961-196224Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42891962-196325Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42901963-196426Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42911965-196727Minute Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/42921967-198131Minutes/repositories/4/archival_objects/42931979-198332Minutes/repositories/4/archival_objects/42941983-1986, undated33Minutes/repositories/4/archival_objects/42951986-198934Minutes/repositories/4/archival_objects/42961990-199235Minutes/repositories/4/archival_objects/42971993-199536Minutes/repositories/4/archival_objects/42981996-199837Minutes/repositories/4/archival_objects/42991999-201141Yearbooks2/repositories/4/archival_objects/42721912-2015EnglishScope and ContentSeries 2: Yearbooks, 1912-2015 contains yearbooks of the Massanutton NSDAR from 1912-2015 (with gaps). The yearbooks contains names, information, and occasionally portraits of members of the Massanutton chapter. Current chapter, state, and national administrator information is included preceding standard chapter members. The yearbooks also contain up-to-date bylaws and general information on the chapter. Also included are songs important to the organizations, creeds, and pledges that are important for members to know. Historical information on charter members as well as former chapter regents are also included.
Yearbooks/repositories/4/archival_objects/43001912-198542Yearbooks/repositories/4/archival_objects/43011986-200043Yearbooks/repositories/4/archival_objects/43022000-201544Subject Files3/repositories/4/archival_objects/42731897-2016EnglishScope and ContentSeries 3, Subject files, 1897-2016, contains a wide variety of materials, documenting the activities of the chapter.
The majority of the files represent events and efforts of the Massanutton chapter. Such files include the Cenennial Postage Stamp project in which the Massanutton chapter developed an official postage stamp with the United States Postal Service to commemorate its 100th anniversary. Another example of such public efforts is the restoration of the Lincoln Cemetery in 2010-2016.
Some files included are administrative in nature, such as awards given by and received by the Massanutton chapter, chapter history, event programs, and regent reports and letters on chapter goals and achievements.
Another portion of the series is composed of miscellaneous general files originating from the national administration of the NSDAR that were in the possession of the Massanutton chapter. These files include pamphlets and informational mailings spanning 1950-2015.
American Medal/repositories/4/archival_objects/4303199251Awards – Given/repositories/4/archival_objects/43041971-201352Awards – Received (folder 1 of 2)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43051986-201653Awards – Received (folder 2 of 2)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43061986-201654Biographies/repositories/4/archival_objects/4307196255Bylaws/repositories/4/archival_objects/4308198956Centennial Postage Stamp Project/repositories/4/archival_objects/43091983-199057Cemetery Records, Historical Markers/repositories/4/archival_objects/43101927-198058Constitution Week/repositories/4/archival_objects/43111962-198059Correspondence/repositories/4/archival_objects/43121908-2014510Diamond Jubilee/repositories/4/archival_objects/4313197161Donations/repositories/4/archival_objects/4314199362Flag/repositories/4/archival_objects/43151962-197763Flag Essay Contest/repositories/4/archival_objects/4316199964History of Chapter/repositories/4/archival_objects/43171897-198765Lincoln Cemetery Restoration/repositories/4/archival_objects/43182010-2016 66Membership/repositories/4/archival_objects/4319198167Member Cemetery Markers/repositories/4/archival_objects/4320198568Memorial Plaque/repositories/4/archival_objects/4321192169Miscellaneous National Files (folder 1 of 4)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43221950-2015610Miscellaneous National Files (folder 2 of 4)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43231950-2015611Miscellaneous National Files (folder 3 of 4)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43241950-2015612Miscellaneous National Files (folder 4 of 4)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43251950-2015613Name – Massanutton/repositories/4/archival_objects/43261897-196571Naturalization (folder 1 of 2)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43271965-201572Naturalization (folder 2 of 2)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43281965-201573Newsletters/repositories/4/archival_objects/43291954-200474Newspaper Clippings (folder 1 of 2)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43301962-2015 75Newspaper Clippings (folder 2 of 2)/repositories/4/archival_objects/43311962-2015 76Photographs/repositories/4/archival_objects/43322000-200777Programs/repositories/4/archival_objects/43331984-199678Publications and Compilations/repositories/4/archival_objects/4334197681Regent Letters/repositories/4/archival_objects/43351985-199482Reports/repositories/4/archival_objects/43361919, undated83Reports/repositories/4/archival_objects/43371920-197084Reports/repositories/4/archival_objects/43381971-198385Reports/repositories/4/archival_objects/43391990-200086ROTC Medal/repositories/4/archival_objects/43401977-197987Songbooks/repositories/4/archival_objects/4341undated88Treasurer Record Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/43421906-192289Thomas Harrison Memorial/repositories/4/archival_objects/43431943-2000810VADAR Cookie Book/repositories/4/archival_objects/43442014811Scrapbooks and Ephemera4/repositories/4/archival_objects/42741897-1981EnglishScope and ContentSeries 4: Scrapbooks and Ephemera, 1897-1981 contains four scrapbooks of clippings and notes related to the Massanutton chapter. Also included in the series is a commemorative ceramic plate honoring the 75th anniversary of the founding of the NSDAR. The plate bears the logo of the organization and was created by J. E. Caldwell Co. in Philadelphia, PA. The official NSDAR Massanutton Chapter charter is also included in the series, dating back to the chapter's founding in 1897. Also in the series is an undated portrait of a NSDAR member Katherine Seymore Green (Mrs. K. Paul).
K. Paul Photograph/repositories/4/archival_objects/43451897OV 11Massanutton Chapter Charter/repositories/4/archival_objects/43461897OV 12Commemorative Plate/repositories/4/archival_objects/43471965OV 1Scrapbook 1/repositories/4/archival_objects/4348undated91Scrapbook 2/repositories/4/archival_objects/4349undated92Scrapbook 3/repositories/4/archival_objects/4350undated93Scrapbook 4/repositories/4/archival_objects/4351undated94