Dialogues of women with African American lineage, whose patriot ancestors—American Indian, Black, and white men and women—contributed to the American Revolution.
These women have proven their ancestry by their membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Any woman 18 years or older may become a member of the DAR by proving direct lineal descent to a patriot who contributed to the Revolutionary War.
This site is not an official National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) website, and the content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. The President General is the official spokesperson of NSDAR.
DAUGHTER
DIALOGUES
The members of the DAR are all Daughters regardless of color. The Dialogues on this site are not to create a separation by focusing on members with African American lineage but rather to change the narrative of race relations in this nation to reflect a more accurate history – one where African Americans had much greater agency in the development of the United States of America and whites were aligned with blacks in many instances. These stories will serve as a healing of a history that is still a source of conflict and polarization in this county amongst the races.
Browse the profiles of
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African American members of the DAR and
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DAR members who descend from a patriot of African descent.
It is a common misconception that most African-American DAR members descend from patriots of color. However, the ethnicities of Daughter Dialogues participants’ patriots are diverse. They include American Indian, Black, white, and mixed race men and women.
Sort Daughters' profiles by:
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Filter Daughters' profiles by:
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Hear oral histories of women with African American lineage who celebrate their ancestors' fight to achieve American Independence through membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Who are these women? Why did they join the DAR? What are their experiences as members of the society?
Learn about their personal journeys to join the DAR and the contributions they are making as members.
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Are you an African American member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)? You do not need to have a patriot of color.
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Are you a member who descends from a DAR patriot of African descent? You do not need to be an African American member.
If either of the above describes you, then please participate by submitting your information in the form on the Participate page for your profile to be included on the DaughterDialogues.com website. You will need to register and log in as a site member to access the form.
Your help is needed to identify others who should be included that do not appear on the Daughters page. The DAR states that it does not officially keep records on the race of its members thus, new research subjects are only found by word of mouth. Be a Daughter Dialogues ambassador by sharing the form on the Participate page with those you know who are described above and encourage them to submit their profile to be included on the website!
DAUGHTER DIALOGUES ARCHIVED IN THE HARVARD LIBRARY
The Daughter Dialogues collection of oral history recordings is preserved at the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute, arguably the world’s largest archive devoted to the history of both individual women and women’s organizations. It is available through the library catalog at https://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/99156360061303941/catalog
The library archivists are still in the process of loading the audio recordings however, oral history summaries and participants' portraits are complete along with a finding aid.
'Daughters' Welcomes 1st Black Woman to National Board
U.S. News & World Report, June 29, 2019
NEW YORK (AP) — When Wilhelmena Rhodes Kelly hit a roadblock while researching her family history, a chance encounter at a conference with members of the Daughters of the American Revolution got her the help she needed to keep going.
Now, Kelly is helping the DAR have its own breakthrough moment. On Sunday, the lineage-based group, with a longstanding reputation as a bastion of white privilege, will install Kelly as the head of its New York state organization and the first African American woman on its national governing board.
Black woman rises to leadership in Daughters of the American Revolution
The Grio, May 26, 2013
This month, Autier Allen-Craft was elected to the position of regent in the Norwalk–Village Green chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Connecticut. Allen-Craft, a black woman, says the organization has come a long way since its years of controversy related to racial exclusion.
For Daughters of the American Revolution, A New Chapter
The New York Times, July 4, 2012
Olivia Cousins can trace her family in the United States to a soldier who joined the rebelling colonists when he was just 17. But when a friend suggested she join the Daughters of the American Revolution, an organization whose members can prove they are related to someone who aided the rebels in 1776, Dr. Cousins nearly laughed.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
The purpose of Daughter Dialogues is to explore the contemporary lives of members with African American lineage in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Their patriot ancestors are American Indian, black, and white men and women who participated in the fight for the independence of the United States of America.
Outcomes include oral history recordings of participants that will be preserved into perpetuity by their deposit into the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute, arguably the world’s largest archive devoted to the history of both individual women and women’s organizations.
The information on the website is a result of research currently being conducted by Reisha L. Raney, non-resident fellow, W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute at the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University; Past Organizing Secretary, Maryland State Society Daughters of the American Revolution; and Honorary Regent, Harmony Hall Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. Research objectives include:
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Documenting narratives of members of color and descendants of patriots of color in the DAR.
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Examining the historical context of members of color in the DAR.
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Examining the changing perceptions among non-DAR members in response to the research.