Membership

Obtaining Membership

Membership in the NSDAR is a unique opportunity to celebrate your lineage and heritage as a descendant of a patriot of the American Revolution. Applicants interested in participating in the historical, educational, and patriotic activities of the NSDAR are welcome to join our ranks. Regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, an applicant for membership must be no less than 18 years of age and able to prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American Independence by way of military, civil, or patriotic service. You will need to provide proof for birth, marriage, and death, for each generation, starting with yourself and going back lineally to your patriot. No Chapter may discriminate against an applicant on the basis of race or creed.

The NSDAR, a patriotic society, is neither religiously nor politically affiliated, accepts minorities, and does not lobby Congress. See the FAQ Page.

For complete information on becoming a member, please contact us; we will gladly answer any questions that you may have concerning the application process, and also assist you throughout the application process.

Junior Membership

Members are the future of DAR!

In 1937, the DAR established the Junior Membership Committee for DAR members age 18 through 35 years of age (until her 36th birthday). Junior members are students, mothers, and/or professionals in their communities whom, while very busy, still make time for their DAR activities; she may page at state conference and Continental Congress until her 41st birthday. She holds full DAR membership, and when qualified, may serve as an officer and chairman at the national, state, and chapter levels. The goals of the Junior Membership Committee are to gain new Junior members, to build a well informed Junior membership, to encourage active participation in all phases of DAR service, and to support the National Junior Membership Committee’s official fundraising project, the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund.

Helen Pouch Memorial Fund - The Helen Pouch Memorial Fund is the National Junior Membership Committee’s official fund-raising project. This fund is named in memory of Helen Pouch (1901-1919) who was the daughter of Mrs. William H. Pouch, the first National Chairman of the Junior Membership Committee in 1937, and later President General, 1941-1944. The fund provides scholarships, medical aid, and general financial assistance to the two DAR supported schools, Kate Duncan Smith DAR School in Alabama, and Tamassee DAR School in South Carolina. Tennessee Daughters can help support the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund by purchasing items at the Junior Shoppe at State Society meetings. In honor of Mrs. William Pouch, or "Aunt Helen," as she was fondly called by the Juniors, we use the Kangaroo to represent the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund.

National Junior Doll - Another way members support the fund is by purchasing voices on the National Junior Doll. Since the establishment of the National Junior Membership Committee in 1937, dolls have been used for both charitable and fundraising purposes. Even before the National Junior Doll was officially recognized, states such as Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Colorado did various Junior projects that involved dolls. Each year, the National Doll is sponsored by one state organization; state organizations volunteer for this honor. The doll is usually modeled after someone influential from that state or from the DAR in general. Juniors sell voices for one year and the proceeds directly benefit the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund.