American Spirit magazine has drawn such interest that the bimonthly publication by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, or DAR, is available at many bookstores and newsstands.
One excellent article in the March-April issue is “Charting Family History in the DAR Museum’s Quilts — Stitches in Time,” by Alden O’Brien. The exhibit, “Eye on Elegance: Early Quilts of Maryland and Virginia,” is on display in the DAR Museum Gallery at 1776 D St. NW in Washington, D.C., through Sept. 5. Admission is free, and more information is available at dar.org/museum.
If you go, be sure to visit the more than 30 rooms maintained by state DARs, including the Maine Room, which is based on an 1820s shipmaster’s parlor.
You may have wondered, “What is a DAR?” and “Who is a DAR?”
A daughter is a woman who has joined the DAR on the direct genealogical line of a patriot, someone who fought for the patriots in the Revolution or otherwise provided patriotic service, such as serving on a town committee or donating food or other support to the troops or signing the Declaration of Independence.
Who is a DAR? Probably many people you know. I joined the Frances Dighton Williams Chapter in Bangor in April 1979 on the service of my ancestor William Hayford Sr. of Pembroke, Massachusetts.
U.S. Sen. Margaret Chase Smith was a longtime member of DAR, and actress Bo Derek is a member.
Aren’t we a rather conservative bunch who spends our time wearing white gloves and drinking tea? My observation is that members probably belong to a variety of political parties and no party at all. We don’t ask that question of one another, and our charter as a charitable, educational, historic organization does not allow us to lobby or undertake those kinds of activities. I do wear white gloves a couple of times a year, but I’m not a tea drinker.
Let’s look at four DAR members profiled in this month’s American Spirit magazine. Three are sisters enrolled in the military: Maj. Sarah Strecker, a member of the Army’s 10th Special Forces Group and new mother; Capt. Laura Strecker, a hospice nurse for the Department of Veteran Affairs in Minnesota; and Capt. Julie Strecker, now deployed to Afghanistan.
The fourth member I want to mention is Laura Murphy, director of the Washington Legislative Office for the American Civil Liberties Union.
That is a diverse group.
One of the first activities of the DAR, which was formed in 1890, was to rescue the monument of Mary Ball Washington, George Washington’s mother. The group raised nearly three-fourths of the $11,000 needed to complete the monument. More recently, the DAR made a $10,000 grant to a woman’s organization for work on a National Bohemian Cemetery in Minnesota.
Do you know someone who has become a citizen of the United States? He or she may have studied for the citizenship test using one of 10 million manuals published free by the DAR.
Bangor Public Library, Maine State Library and the Maine Historical Society have a good collection of miscellaneous records books compiled by the Maine DAR. And as we speak, the National DAR is digitizing many of its genealogical records with an eye to sharing much of that info online.
Genealogy talks
Niina (Giordano) Brawn, a member of Wassebec Genealogical Society in Dover-Foxcroft, will present “Irish Genealogy” at the monthly meeting of Penobscot County Genealogical Society, to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, in the Relief Society Room of the Bangor Family History Center at the LDS Church, 639 Grandview Ave., on the corner of Grandview and Essex Street in Bangor.
All are welcome to attend. Nina is an engaging speaker, and Irish genealogy certainly is a compelling topic.
Whether you want to have a website or not, admit it: Most of us wish we knew a little more about websites. Then come on along to the next meeting of the Washington County Historical & Genealogical Society at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 21, in the Emergency Management Room at 28 Center St., Machias.
Caleb Ross, Information Technology coordinator for Washington County, will help the WCH&GS design and build a website for the organization. The public is invited to attend.
Darlene Springer, co-owner and general manager for H.M. Dunn & Son Monument, will speak on “Civil War Memorials in Hancock County” for the Wilson Museum series this month at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in the Hutchins Center on Perkins Street, Castine.
Darlene, a longtime member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, will talk about the materials used to make monuments, the various facets of the memorials, family information to be found on them, and even what is inside some of these markers. This is sure to be a fascinating talk.
The Hutchins Center will be open for genealogical research from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19. Both activities are free.
For i nformation on researching family history in Maine, see Genealogy Resources under Family Ties at bangordailynews.com/browse/family-ties. Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402, or email familyti@bangordailynews.com.