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Our Goals and Purposes
Ancestral Service
But What if I am Black (African-American)?
But What if I am Hispanic?
But What if my Family Recently Came from
Europe?
The Application Form
Candidate Membership
Genealogy 101
Resources for Family History
The Application Process
The Ladies Auxiliary
Contact the Registrar
Our Goals and Purposes
We welcome new members and thank you for your interest in our organization.
Our goals fall into three primary areas: Historical, Patriotic, and Educational.
The following has been excerpted from the National Society web site.
HISTORICAL
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We commemorate and provide memorials for the people and events of
the American Revolution.
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We help preserve records relating to the events leading up to and
during the American Revolution.
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We support research and presentations (books, articles, and talks)
related to the history and people of the period 1750-1800.
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The national SAR Magazine publishes authoritative descriptions of
historical events in a quality magazine of archival value.
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PATRIOTIC
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We inspire the community with the principles on which our nation
was founded.
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Many chapters and states have color guards that wear Revolutionary War
uniforms and participate in civic and patriotic events and observances.
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We maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom. In
1994 the NSSAR formed a Task Force to Preserve U. S. History to help focus
public attention on profound problems in some proposed national standards
for teaching pre-college U. S. History.
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We help carry out the promises expressed in the Preamble to the
Constitution.
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We provide recognition for public service. The state societies and
chapters of the NSSAR present thousands of awards each year to law enforcement
officers, public safety officers, and other citizens who exemplify the
best civic traditions of our nation. This includes young men and women
who are leaders in our communities: high-ranking high school students of
history, Eagle Scouts, JROTC and ROTC cadets and midshipmen.
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We honor, respect, and support veterans, especially those confined
to residential and hospital facilities provided by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
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EDUCATIONAL
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We sponsor contests -- essay and oration -- for high school students,
based on historical and patriotic themes.
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We inform the community about the events and philosophical bases
of the American Revolution and the Constitution. Color Guards in Revolutionary
War uniforms participate in civic events and patriotic celebrations throughout
the United States, providing pageantry, drama and a sense of the nation's
history. Important events and persons of the Revolutionary period are portrayed
for students and the public at large.
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The SAR Magazine provides a public record of the activities of the
society and has numerous articles detailing the history of the initial
and continuing struggle for independence.
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We help people locate and evaluate genealogical records. Our state
and chapter registrars have excellent resources, and the NSSAR library
is a major national repository of genealogical information.
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Ancestral Service
Generally either military or government service under the Colonies from
April 19, 1775 to November 26, 1783, inclusive, by your ancestor, will
qualify you for membership in the SAR. Additionally, certain "pre-war"
service is acceptable, such as participation in the Battle of Point Pleasant
(October 1774), the Boston Tea Party (December 1773), and others too numerous
to list here. Certain civilian services, such as supplying provisions,
manufacturing war materiel, or membership on Committees would also be acceptable.
Women certainly can be qualifying ancestors. If there is any doubt about
an ancestor's service, we will be glad to help clarify your eligibility.
Note that only direct (blood line) ancestors are acceptable. [top]
But What if I am Black (African-American)?
The first American killed in the demonstrations that led up to the Revolution
was Black (Crispus Attucks). Rhode Island raised a whole regiment
of Black soldiers. A good reference is the recently published American
Patriots: The story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert
Storm by Gail Buckley. Proving the service and line of descent
might be difficult. But more and more materials on Black genealogy
are being published. [top]
But What if I am Hispanic?
Spain was an ally during the Revolutionary War and provided financial,
material and military assistance. If you can trace your ancestry
to a soldier who served in the American sector in the Spanish Army you
may be eligible to join. In our Historical Articles web page we give
lists, by presidio or naval installation of many such soldiers.
Check these out.
[top]
But What if my Family Recently Came From Europe?
Both Spain and France were allies and provided soldiers who served in the
American sector. And part of what is now Germany was allied with
France. The famous Deuxponts Regiment actually comprised mainly German
soldiers from Zweibruecken, Germany. Individual soldiers came from
various countries: Sweden, Russia, Poland. If you can prove a descent
from any of these you may be eligible. Indeed, there are S.A.R. chapters
in France.[top]
The Application Form
Go to the national SAR web site (link given below) and follow the links
to SAR forms and the applicant worksheets. There are two versions:
one in RTF that most word processors can accept, and one in TXT that note
pad or any text editor can accept. Whether or not you ever apply to be
member, these set the goals for your efforts for documentation and correctness
of the lineage. There are also some helpful "how-to" pages there.
The Chapter Registrar will fill out the formal application on the proper
archival paper for submission to the State and National Societies from
your printed output. [top]
http://www.sar.org
Candidate Membership
The South Coast Chapter offers a candidate class of membership. For $15
per year you will receive the chapter newsletter, be able to participate
in chapter activities such as the Color Guard and generally become acquainted
with the Chapter and allow us to become acquainted with you. Please consider
this - it keeps you touch with us and provides you with some motivation
to join as a full member as quickly as you can. Candidates and their guests
are always welcome at our chapter meetings.[top]
Genealogy 101
Step One in any family history research project is to contact all your
family members who might possibly be of help. But treat them gently!
Tell them your goal and ask them for information, a little at a time.
And thank them profusely for their help.
But, what are acceptable proofs?
Official copies of birth or baptismal records showing the names of parents
should be submitted wherever possible. When birth or baptismal records
are not available, a combination of the following may be substituted therefore:
photocopies of actual census records, land records that mention relations,
marriage records which show parentage, wills, probate court records (or
other court records in which relationships are mentioned, such as land
dispute or divorce matters), church records or Bible records (include a
copy of the title page).
Family histories and genealogies may be accepted as evidence. If the
family history or genealogy was authored by the applicant or a member of
his immediate family, copies of the sources used for the compilation must
be furnished.
You may rely on the application of an SAR or DAR relative to gain membership,
but you should be aware that many older applications may have been based
on proofs that do not meet modern genealogical criteria, so you may be
asked to provide additional documentation. And some of the previously
accepted lines are erroneous.
The record of the service of your Patriot Ancestor should be as complete
as possible. Dates of birth and death are especially important. Indicate
all sources of information regarding military or civil service, with photocopies
of each document relied on for the information.
Never, NEVER, use a highlighter! This darkens with age and obscures the
underlying information. And such copies can not reliably be copied again.
To emphasize specific information on a page underline it neatly with a colored pencil.
Last but not least, don't give up because some information is questionable,
or because you seem to have run out of places to look for information or
documents. Check with your registrar for guidance over the rough spots
[top]
Resources for Family History
We list local libraries on the separate web page (link given below).
Most public libraries have their collections cataloged on the web.
You can verify their hours and holdings from home before traveling there.
You can purchase a CD with the complete catalog of the LDS Family History
Library and check their available holdings at home. Remember, though, documentation
consists of paper, not web sites. When you make copies make enough for
your use and for submission with your application. We also give a
small selection of genealogical web sites for your browsing.[top]
South Coast Genealogy Libraries
Some Genealogy Web sites
The Application Process
Once you have filled out the worksheet with information from your genealogical
research, it should be reviewed with the Chapter Registrar to identify
possible problems in processing the application, and to advise or assist
you with them.
When the worksheet appears acceptable, the Chapter will prepare the
formal application for submission to the National Society.
When your formal application is ready for submission to the State and
National Societies, three checks will be needed. The Registrar will advise
of the payees and the amounts. We must have these before the final application
can be submitted. Reduced fees apply to sons, grandsons, brothers, nephews
and grand-nephews of a member of SAR, DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution)
or SR (Sons of the Revolution), if under 25, and to CAR (Children of the
American Revolution) members under age 22, with the ORIGINAL transfer card.
Once accepted as a member, annual National, State and Chapter dues thereafter
total fifty-eight dollars ($58.00) payable by 1 December.
There is a life membership provision.
The way the SAR is organized, there are no "members-at-large", which
means that all members must be associated with a Chapter. However, for
our more mobile members, transfer of a Chapter membership is a simple process,
and we also have dual membership status for those who move but like to
maintain contact with friends they've made. [top]
Ladies Auxiliary
Ladies Auxiliary Membership in the Ladies Auxiliary is open to wives, widows,
mothers, daughters and sisters of SAR members. There is no lineage requirement.
While it operates independently, the Auxiliary formulates their activities
to further the goals of the SAR. They encourage membership in the SAR,
raise funds for SAR programs as well as their own, and promote Sorority
amongst their members.
Annual dues are five dollars ($5.00), and the CASSAR Auxiliary meets
twice a year in November and April, in conjunction with statewide SAR meetings.
In June, at the NSSAR Annual Congress, Auxiliary members nationwide undertake
joint activities.
Need more information or have questions, please send us a note.
Clicking here will take you to our contact information page.
Contact the Registrar.
Updated 28 August 2017[top]