"The DAR sent us a cannon for the courthouse square!"

That line from "The Music Man" song "Wells Fargo Wagon" was my introduction to the Daughters of the American Revolution, the DAR. October 11, 2015 marked the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the organization. The DAR was created in 1890 because the other organizations tracing their roots back to the Revolutionary War refused to admit women. In response, women created their own. 

Photo: sar.org

1889 marked the 100th anniversary of George Washington's presidential inauguration and a renewed time of patriotism. Both the Sons of the Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) were exclusive organizations that did not allow women. The Sons of the Revolution required that members be descendants of a man who served in the military during the War for Independence, while the SAR required members to be descendants of someone who actively supported the war. 

Photo: blogs.loc.gov (23rd street Arch, New York City, Washington Inaugural Centennial parade)

Mary Smith Lockwood was denied membership to the SAR. In response, she published the story of Hannah White Arnett, a woman who convinced men of Elizabethtown, New Jersey to refrain from proclaiming loyalty to the British. Lockwood asked in the article how Arnett, obviously a patriot who contributed to the war effort, would be remembered. A great-grandson of Arnett offered to help Lockwood form a society for Daughters of the American Revolution.

Photo: dar.org

Mary Smith Lockwood, Mary Desha, Ellen Walworth and Eugenia Washington are considered the four founders of the DAR, but there were 18 people at the first meeting who helped to establish the society. The first woman to hold the post of President General of the society was Caroline Harrison, the First Lady to US President Benjamin Harrison. First Lady Harrison was in the process of renovating the White House and was interested in historic preservation. This interest helped her to draft the goals of the DAR: Historical, Educational and Patriotic. 

Photo: loc.gov (First Lady Caroline Harrison)

The Historical goal was to remember those who worked for and achieved American Independence. The Educational goal was to follow George Washington's encouragement "to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge." The Patriotic goal was to maintain the institutions of American freedom and to foster a love of country. 

Photo: dar.gov (First DAR Congress)

Since its establishment, the DAR has grown and surpassed the SAR. Today, there are chapters in all 50 states as well as 12 other countries and there have been 930,000 members since 1890. While October 11th is the anniversary date, the DAR is commemorating its 125th anniversary throughout the year of 2015 through community service, education and supporting patriots. 

Photo: dar.org