Sons of the American Revolution

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. A non-profit corporation, it has described its purpose as maintaining and extending "the institutions of American freedom, an appreciation for true patriotism, a respect for our national symbols, the value of American citizenship, [and] the unifying force of 'e pluribus unum' that has created, from the people of many nations, one nation and one people."[1]

National Society
of the
Sons of the American Revolution
Emblem of the Sons of the American Revolution
Logo used by the SAR
AbbreviationSAR, NSSAR
Motto"Libertas et patria" (Latin)
"Liberty and Country"
EstablishedApril 30, 1889 (1889-04-30)
TypePatriotic-Hereditary society
Legal statusFederally chartered corporation
PurposeFraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, educational
Headquarters809 West Main Street,
Louisville, Kentucky
Region served
Nationwide
Membership
35,111 (2019)
Official language
English
AffiliationsDaughters of the American Revolution
Children of the American Revolution
Websitesar.org
Philadelphia Continental Chapter of the SAR at a ceremony commemorating the birth of General and President George Washington at the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier in Washington Square, Philadelphia

The members of the society are male descendants of people who served in the American Revolutionary War or who contributed to establishing the independence of the United States. It is dedicated to perpetuating American ideals and traditions, and to protecting the Constitution of the United States; the official recognition of Constitution Day, Flag Day, and Bill of Rights Day were established through its efforts. It has members in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.[2]

The organization is distinct from the Sons of the Revolution, a separate descendants heritage organization founded on February 22, 1876 by businessman John Austin Stevens and members of The Society of the Cincinnati. SAR Founder William Osborn McDowell disagreed with the Sons of the Revolution requirement at that time that all state societies were to be subordinate to the New York society.

History

Theodore Roosevelt, a member of the organization, signed its Congressional Charter in 1906

The first organization of descendants of Revolutionary War patriots was established in San Francisco, California, in 1876. A group of men who were descendants of Revolutionary War veterans gathered to celebrate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States. They also wanted to honor the men and women who pledged their lives, fortunes, and livelihood to the striving for independence from Great Britain. This group formed an organization called the Sons of Revolutionary War Sires (SRWS). There is, however, no direct link between the SRWS and the SAR except that members of the SRWS were permitted to join the SAR after its founding in 1889.

The history of the SAR can be traced to the founding of the Sons of the Revolution, the New York Society which was organized in 1876. The SR was founded by John Austin Stevens who envisioned an aristocratic social and hereditary organization along the lines of the Society of the Cincinnati. In 1889 William Osborn McDowell, a New Jersey financier and businessman, organized the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the Revolution but was unwilling to accept the SR's requirement that other state societies be subordinate to the New York society. Furthermore, McDowell wanted the society to become more of a mass movement of descendants of Revolutionary patriots rather than an exclusive social club. As a result, McDowell organized the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) at Fraunces Tavern in New York on April 30, 1889. This was the centennial for the inauguration of George Washington as the First President of the United States of America in 1789. SAR membership number 1 was assigned to McDowell. In addition to organizing the SAR, McDowell worked with six women to organize the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution on July 29, 1890.

The SAR was formally granted a congressional charter by an act of Congress under Title 36 of the United States Code on June 9, 1906. The act was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a member.

Sons of the American Revolution grave marker, Old Ship Burying Ground, Hingham, Massachusetts

Membership

Membership in the society is open to any male of "good repute"[3] who can prove lineal bloodline descent from an ancestor who actively supported the American Revolution.[4] Acceptable ancestors include:

No state society or chapter may discriminate against an applicant on the basis of race or creed. The SAR claims a membership of over 37,000 members in over 550 chapters representing all 50 states in the United States, as well as societies in Canada, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Overall, about 200,000 descendants have been admitted since the founding of the S.A.R. in 1890.

Governance

Horace Porter, U.S. Ambassador to France, served as President-General of the Sons of the American Revolution from 1892 to 1897.

The governance of the Sons of the American Revolution is made up of 10 National (General) Officers, 15 Vice-Presidents that preside over separate geographical regions and a Trustee elected from each state and international society. These officers meet several times over the year to discuss business pertaining to the society. The National Officers meet at least four times during their term of office, unless special meetings are called. The Trustees meet twice each year at the Society's Headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. These meetings, known as the Fall and Spring Leadership Meetings, are normally held in late September and early March. During the Leadership Meetings committee recommendations and the society's budget are approved. While only the National Officers, Vice-Presidents and Trustees have the right to vote on the floor, all SAR members are welcome to attend and may request appointment to committees. The National Officers and Trustees also meet during the National Congress held in late June or early July of each year. Unlike the Leadership Meetings which always take place at the Society's National Headquarters, the National Congress is held in different locations throughout the United States. Locations are often selected in order to honor a historical event in United States history or in the history of the SAR, and there is an effort to alternate the meetings between the Eastern and Western United States. The National Congress is responsible for electing the National Officers and approving changes to the Society's constitution, along with any other motions brought before it. In addition to the National Officers, Vice-Presidents and Trustees, State and International Society Presidents and specially elected delegates from each society also attend with voting privileges. The number of delegates are determined by each State or International Society's membership size.

In addition to the larger meetings previously listed, there are over 60 standing and special committees that SAR members are appointed to in order to oversee the Society's welfare. Some of these committees include: facilities, insurance, genealogy, library, merchandise, medals and awards. All SAR members are welcome to participate on committees and are appointed by the Society's President General for a one-year term. There are no term-limits and all committee members have the right to vote on the committee's decisions.

The President-General for 2019–2020 is John T. Manning He was sworn in as President-General at the 129th National Congress in Orange County, CA. The Executive Director is Don Shaw of the Kentucky Society.

Genealogical library

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution has held a collection of genealogical reference dating back to 1889. Materials were originally kept by the Secretary General or Registrar General up until 1926, when the materials were moved to the Registrar General's office in Washington, D.C., in 1927, this collection was moved to the recently purchased Sixteenth Street Headquarters Building, and the collection had grown to 914 books by 1933. From this point until the move of Headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Louisville, Kentucky, the book collection grew at a rapid pace, growing to approximately 25,000 items by 1988. At this point, the Library was on the Second floor of the Headquarters building on South Fourth Street, and possessed a 544-square-foot vault for books not out in the library due to space.

Because of continuing growth, the SAR Library was moved in 2010 to a renovated building on West Main Street in the heart of the Historic Museum District of downtown Louisville. By this point, the Library collection had grown to over 58,000 items, mostly covering the Revolutionary War period, but also containing other genealogical materials. The library collection includes family histories, state genealogy materials, federal censuses, Revolutionary War pension applications, and CD collections, and the library separates materials based on State. The library also provides access to online research databases, including Ancestry.com, Footnote.com, and Heritage Quest Online.

Merchandise

The society operates a Merchandise Department that sells items intended for both SAR members and the general public. Among the products available to the general public are: clothing apparel for men and women, Revolutionary War replicas such as Liberty Bells and Field Cannons, jewelry for men and women such as lapel pins and cuff links, along with cups, mugs, key-chains, books, CDs, videos and knickknacks. Items intended for SAR members only include: clothing, decals, license plate holders and frames, certificates and medals corresponding to SAR activities, medals designed to reward active and retired military personnel, firefighters, EMS, JROTC and ROTC, individuals involved in education, Eagle Scouts and many others.

The Merchandise Department is located on the lower level of the SAR Genealogical Library, located at 809 West Main Street, just across the street from the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.

Activities

Indiana Society SAR Color Guard appearing with the recreated 19th US Infantry at an outdoor Fourth of July concert with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

The society is involved in historical research, raising funds for local scholarships and educational awards, and preservation of sites and documents related to the American Revolution. The SAR petitioned Congress to store Revolutionary era documents in a fire-proof area and make them available to the public, leading to the creation of the National Archives.[5] It is also active in cataloging and marking Revolutionary War patriot graves and conducts an annual Eagle Scout scholarship program. The society is active in promoting "patriotism," and was instrumental in the establishment of Constitution Day.[6] Several SAR societies and chapters have active color guard groups that appear in various public and private venues as a means of community outreach.

The Sons of the American Revolution hosts two Leadership Meetings and one National Congress every year. The two leadership meetings are held in the Spring and Fall in Louisville, KY at the Brown Hotel. The National Congress is held at a different location every year during the Summer. The 2017 National Congress took place in Knoxville, Tennessee, while the 2018 Congress will take place in Houston, Texas.

SAR national headquarters

The SAR's national headquarters, located along Museum Row in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, contains the organization's administrative staff offices, SAR Genealogical Research Library, and the future site of an American Revolutionary War Education Center. The SAR is currently raising funds to finish the Center's development. The building houses original and copied art that commemorates important people and events of the Revolutionary War, as well as historical uniforms, flags, documents, and other colonial era pieces.

Symbolism of the SAR insignia

The SAR insignia consists of a Maltese cross surrounded by a garland, with a relief of George Washington in a center circle.

The cross's vertical bar represents the commandment "You Shall Love Your God"; the horizontal bar represents the commandment "You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself." The four limbs are a reminder of the four cardinal virtues; its eight points represent eight spiritual injunctions:

  1. To have spiritual contentment
  2. To live without malice
  3. To weep over your sins
  4. To humble yourself at insults
  5. To love justice
  6. To be merciful
  7. To be sincere and open-hearted
  8. To suffer persecution

Surrounding the relief of Washington in the center are the words "LIBERTAS ET PATRIA," a reminder of the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.[7]

The insignia is normally worn suspended by a ribbon of blue, white and gold (buff) on the wearer's left breast. National officers and former state and chapter presidents wear the insignia suspended from a neck ribbon of the Society's colors.

On other occasions a rosette in the Society's colors is worn on the wearers left lapel.

Notable SAR members

Presidents of the United States

To date, 17 presidents of the United States have been members of the SAR. President Grant was admitted posthumously in recognition of his being a member of the Sons of Revolutionary Sires, whose members were later admitted to membership in the SAR.

Of the presidents who lived since the SAR's founding in 1889 and are not listed above, presidents Grover Cleveland, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama[11] all had patriot ancestors but did not join the SAR. Presidents Woodrow Wilson, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Donald Trump did not have patriot ancestors.

Of the 22 presidents who served prior to the founding of the SAR, six qualify as patriot ancestors – George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe and Andrew Jackson. Two others, Grant and Hayes, were members of SAR.

Vice presidents of the United States

In addition to the above, the following vice presidents were SAR compatriots and later became President of the United States: Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry S Truman, Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush.

Nobel Peace Prize recipients

Nobel Prize for Literature recipient

Medal of Honor recipients

The following 38 SAR Compatriots are known to have received the Medal of Honor. It is possible that there are other Medal of Honor recipients who were SAR Compatriots.

(The rank indicated is the highest held by the individual and not necessarily that held at the time the Medal of Honor was earned or awarded.)

Military and naval officers

Foreign national leaders

Cabinet officers

Diplomats

Governors

United States senators

U.S. representatives

Judges

Other public officials

Other notable members

List of Presidents General of the Sons of the American Revolution

This is an incomplete list of the presidents-general of the Sons of the American Revolution.[26] The first President General was Lucius Deming. There have been three Honorary President Generals named. Four President Generals have died in office.

President GeneralTerm in office State Society
Lucius Parmenias Deming1889–1890 Connecticut
William Seward Webb1890–1892 Empire State (NY)
Horace Porter1892–1897 Empire State (NY)
Edward Shepard Barrett

(died in office)

1897–1898 Massachusetts
Franklin Murphy1898–1900 New Jersey
Joseph Cabell Breckinridge1900–1901 Kentucky
Walter S. Logan1901–1902 Empire State (NY)
Edwin Warfield1902–1903 Maryland
Edwin S. Greeley1903–1905 Connecticut
James Denton Hancock 1904–1905 Pennsylvania
Francis Henry Appleton 1905–1906 Massachusetts
Cornelius Amory Pugsley 1906–1907 Empire State (NY)
Nelson Alvin McClary 1907–1908 Illinois
Henry W. Stockbridge Jr 1908–1909 Maryland
Morris Beach Beardsley 1909–1910 Connecticut
William Allen Marble 1910–1911 Empire State (NY)
Moses Greeley Parker 1911–1912 Massachusetts
James McElroy Richardson 1912–1913 Ohio
Rogers Clark Ballard Thruston 1913–1915 Kentucky
Newell Bertram Woodworth 1915–1916 Empire State (NY)
Elmer Marston Wentworth 1916–1918 Iowa
Louis Annin Ames 1918–1919 Empire State (NY)
Chancellor Livingston Jenks Jr 1919–1920 Illinois
James H. Preston 1920–1921 Maryland
Wallace McCamant 1921–1922 Oregon
W. I. Lincoln Adams1922–1923 New Jersey
Arthur Preston Sumner 1923–1924 Rhode Island
Marvin Harrison Lewis 1924–1925 Kentucky
Harvey Foote Remington 1925–1926 Empire State (NY)
Wilbert Hamilton Barrett 1926–1927 Michigan
Ernest E. Rogers1927–1928 Connecticut
Ganson Depew1928–1929 Empire State (NY)
Howard Rowley1929–1930 California
Josiah Alexander Van Orsdel1930–1931 District of Columbia
Benjamin Newhall Johnson
(died in office)
1931–1932 Massachusetts
Frederick William Millspaugh1932–1933 Tennessee
Arthur Milton McGrillis1933–1935 Rhode Island
Henry Fennimore Baker1935–1936 Maryland
Messmore Kendall1936–1940 Empire State (NY)
Smith Lewis Multer1943–1946 New Jersey
Allen Laws Oliver 1946–1947 Missouri
A. Herbert Foreman 1947–1948 Virginia
Charles Bunn Shaler

(died in office)

1948 Pennsylvania
Benjamin Harrison Powell III 1948–1949 Texas
John Whelchel Finger 1949–1950 Empire State (NY)
Wallace Clare Hall 1950–1952 Michigan
Ray Omer Edwards 1952–1953 Florida
A. Alexander le Pelletier de la Houssaye 1953–1954 Louisiana
Milton Miles Lory 1954–1955 Iowa
Edgar Williamson Jr 1955–1956 New Jersey
Eugene Pendleton Carver Jr 1956–1957 Massachusetts
George Edward Tarbox Jr 1957–1958 Colorado
Walter Allerton Wentworth 1958–1959 Empire State (NY)
Charles Aubrey Jones 1959–1960 Ohio
Herschel Stratton Murphy 1960–1961 New Jersey
Horace Yeargin Kitchell 1961–1962 Mississippi
Charles Arner Anderson 1962–1963 Ohio
Robert Leon Sonfield 1963–1964 Texas
Harry Thomas Burn 1964–1965 Tennessee
Howard Emerson Coe 1965–1966 Connecticut
Kenneth Godfrey Smith 1966–1967 Pennsylvania
Len Young Smith 1967–1968 Illinois
Walter Gage Sterling 1968–1969 Texas
James Bronson Gardiner II 1969–1970 Empire State (NY)
Walter Reville Martin 1970–1971 Rhode Island
Eugene Clifford McGuire 1971–1972 Ohio
Ryall Stapleton Morgan 1972–1973 Alabama
Marion Howard Crawmer 1973–1974 Michigan
M. Graham Clark1974–1975 Missouri
Robert Duval Savage 1975–1976 Pennsylvania
Matthew Bacon Sellers III 1976–1977 Florida
Wilson King Barnes Sr 1977–1978 Maryland
Calvin Ellsworth Chunn1978–1980 California
Arthur Mansfield King 1980–1981 Kansas
Richard Henry Thompson Jr 1981–1982 Florida
Howard Laverne Hamilton 1982–1983 Virginia
Warren Griffin Hayes Jr 1983–1984 Pennsylvania
Carl Francis Bessent 1984–1985 Maryland
Benjamin Hume Morris 1985–1986 Kentucky
Clovis Hunter Brakebill 1986–1987 Texas
Nolan Wendell Carson 1987–1988 Ohio
Charles Francis Printz 1988–1989 West Virginia
James Roger Westlake 1989–1990 Georgia
James Robert Calhoun 1990–1991 New Mexico
George Henry Brandau 1991–1992 Texas
Paul Howard Walker 1992–1993 Massachusetts
Robert Bell Vance Sr 1993–1994 Georgia
Stewart Boone McCarty Jr1994–1995 District of Columbia
William C. Gist Jr 1995–1996 Kentucky
Reon Glessner Hillegass Jr 1996–1997 Virginia
Carl K. Hoffman II 1997–1998 Florida
Russell Duff Page 1998–1999 Illinois
Howard F. Horne Jr.1999–2000 Delaware
Bruce Baird Butler

(died in office)

2000–2001 Louisiana
Larry D. McClanahan 2001–2002 Tennessee
B. Rice Aston2002–2003 Texas
Raymond G. Musgrave 2003–2004 West Virginia
Henry N. McCarl 2004–2005 Massachusetts
Roland G. Downing2005–2006 Delaware
Nathan E. White Jr2006–2007 Texas
Bruce A. Wilcox2007–2008 Virginia
David N. Appleby2008–2009 Missouri
Edward F. Butler2009–2010 Texas
J. David Sympson2010–2011 Kentucky
Larry J. Magerkurth2011–2012 California
Stephen Arthur Leishman2012–2013 Delaware
Joseph W. Dooley2013–2014 Virginia
Lindsay C. Brock2014–2015 Florida
Thomas E. Lawrence2015–2016 Texas
J. Michael Tomme Sr.2016–2017 Georgia
Larry T. Guzy2017–2018 Georgia
Warren M. Alter2018–2019 Arizona
John T. Manning 2019–2020 New Hampshire
Adolphus Skinner Hubbard Honorary California
Albert Maver Winn Honorary California
Harold Lee Putnam Honorary California

See also

Notes

  1. "OKSSAR – Purpose". okssar.com. Retrieved 2018-03-16.
  2. Sons of the American Revolution. Online Reference Center. World Book. 2013.
  3. Media, Blackstone. "Sons Of The American Revolution". NSSAR – National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
  4. The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Official Handbook. September 2012. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  5. Charles B. Schweizer. "SAR New Member Information" (PDF).
  6. Williams, Winston C., ed. (1991). Centennial History of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, 1889–1989. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. p. 9. ISBN 9781563110283. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  7. "Suggested Induction Ceremony for New Members No. Two". The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Official Handbook Volume II: History, Organization and Protocol. The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19.
  8. (President Grant died in 1885 – prior to the founding of the S.A.R. – but he was a member of the "Sons of Revolutionary Sires". Though it had no direct connection with the SAR, its members were later granted admission to the Sons of the American Revolution after its organization if they so desired.)
  9. "U.S. Presidents Who Are SAR Members" (PDF). California SAR. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-15. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  10. "The California Compatriot" (PDF). California Society SAR. Spring 2007. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  11. Frederick, Don (December 12, 2007). "Barack Obama's family tree grows and grows". Los Angeles Times.
  12. "SAR Handbook, VIII" (PDF). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-04.
  13. "Patriot Medal". SAR Store.
  14. "William Henry Bisbee". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  15. "Stony Point Battle Chapter Sons of the American Revolution". Archived from the original on 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
  16. "Spain Society Sons of the American Revolution". Spain Society Sons of the American Revolution.
  17. "History of the Dream". Sons of the American Revolution. Archived from the original on 2013-01-25.
  18. "The Political Graveyard: Sons of the American Revolution, politicians, Michigan". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  19. "Texas SAR". www.txssar.org.
  20. "The Founders & Patriots of America". www.founderspatriots.org.
  21. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-10-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "The Political Graveyard: Sons of the American Revolution, politicians, District of Columbia". politicalgraveyard.com.
  23. "Sons of American Revolution welcome Gates". Harvard University Gazette. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  24. NSSAR Membership Roster 2009
  25. Homans, James E., ed. (1918). The Cyclopedia of American Biography. The Press Association Compilers. pp. 299–300.
  26. "Sons of the American Revolution | Presidents General of the SAR and Annual Congress Sites".

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