Emblem of the Sons of the American Revolution
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Logo used by the SAR
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| Abbreviation | SAR, NSSAR |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Libertas et patria" (Latin) "Liberty and Country" |
| Established | April 30, 1889 |
| Type | Patriotic-Hereditary society |
| Legal status | Federally chartered corporation |
| Purpose | Fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, educational |
| Headquarters | 809 West Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky |
Region served
| Nationwide |
Membership
| 35,111 (2019) |
Official language
| English |
| Affiliations | Daughters of the American Revolution Children of the American Revolution |
| Website | sar |
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 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."
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.
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
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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" who can prove lineal bloodline descent from an ancestor who actively supported the American Revolution. Acceptable ancestors include:
- military veterans of the American Revolutionary War, including those who served in the Continental Army, Continental Navy, and state militias and navies
- signers of the Declaration of Independence
- members of the Continental Congress
- civilians who provided arms or supplies to the American cause
- people who served on political bodies supporting the Revolution, signed oaths of allegiance, or those who gave similar support to the Patriot cause.
- Soldiers and sailors from allied nations such as France and Spain who fought in support of American independence.
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. 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. 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:
- To have spiritual contentment
- To live without malice
- To weep over your sins
- To humble yourself at insults
- To love justice
- To be merciful
- To be sincere and open-hearted
- 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.
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.
