Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Related Material

Administrative Information

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Chapter History and General Information, 1896-1985, undated

Series 2: Meeting Minutes and Financial Records, 1896-1986

Series 3: Scrapbooks, 1895-1997

A Finding Aid for the Records of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Continental Chapter [1895-1997, undated]

Part of the Local Organizations Collection at the Plainfield Public Library

Finding aid prepared and encoded by Anna Henderson.

Biographical Note

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded on October 11, 1890, during a time that was marked by a revival in patriotism and intense interest in the beginnings of the United States of America. Women felt the desire to express their patriotic feelings and were frustrated by their exclusion from men's organizations formed to perpetuate the memory of ancestors who fought to make this country free and independent. As a result, a group of pioneering women in the nation's capital formed their own organization and the Daughters of the American Revolution has carried the torch of patriotism ever since.

The objectives laid forth in the first meeting of the DAR have remained the same in over 100 years of active service to the nation. Those objectives are: Historical - to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence; Educational - to carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American people, "to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge, thus developing an enlightened public opinion…"; and Patriotic - to cherish, maintain, and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty.

Since its founding in 1890, DAR has admitted more than 800,000 members. It currently has 165,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally, making it one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country. Any woman 18 years or older-regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background-who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership.

The Continental Chapter 2-019-NJ of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution began on January 23, 1896, serving the Plainfield area. The chapter is named for “These three regiments, who constituted New Jersey’s enlistments to the heroic Continental Army, whose sacrifices, hardships and consecration to the cause of Liberty no pen has ever described.”

The Continental Chapter’s mission was to mark and preserve local sites of historical interest. In 1912, the Chapter had a marker placed at Washington Rock State Park, with a tablet that reads: “From this rock Gen. George Washington watched the movements of the British forces during the anxious months of May and June 1777.” In 1936, the Chapter placed a granite boulder with a plaque in Greenbrook Park in Plainfield to mark the site of the Outpost Camp that guarded Washington and his troops at Morristown in the winter of 1777.

The Chapter also supported the preservation of the Nathaniel Drake House in Plainfield, and at one time provided furnishings for the second floor of this historic home that was built along the York Road in 1745 by Isaac Drake for his son, Nathaniel. George Washington met his officers there during and after the Battle of the Watchungs, fought in the Plainfield area, June 25-27, 1777. The Drake House served as the Continental Chapter’s headquarters in the 1970s and 1980s and is now home to the Historical Society of Plainfield.

On July 2, 2002, Elizabeth Snyder Chapter, based in Dunellen, and Continental Chapter, based in Plainfield, merged to form Elizabeth Snyder-Continental Chapter. On February 5, 2005, the official location of the chapter was changed to Green Brook. Current members reside in North Plainfield, Green Brook, Dunellen, Warren, South Plainfield and Long Hill Township.

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Scope and Contents

The Continental Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution began on January 23, 1896, serving the Plainfield area until it merged with the Elizabeth Snyder Chapter of Dunellen on July 2, 2002. This collection documents the chapter’s membership and activities over the majority of its 106-year history with meeting minutes, scrapbooks, financial records and historical chapter papers.

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Arrangement

The “Daughters of the American Revolution” collection is arranged into three series:

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

The “Daughters of the American Revolution” collection is available for research.

Access is restricted to materials prepared by the Local History department staff. All materials must be viewed in the Plainfield Room and may not be removed to another area of the library without permission of the Library Director or designee. Materials must be handled carefully and kept in order. Materials must not be leaned upon, altered, folded, ripped, or traced upon. Marks may not be added or erased from materials. Materials must be returned directly to Local History department staff and inspected before the researcher leaves the Plainfield Room.

Restrictions on Use

One photocopy may be made (by Plainfield Public Library staff) of each document for the purpose of research; official Local History departmental reproduction fees may apply. Permission to publish must be obtained by the Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees as delegated to the Library Director. Permission to publish does not constitute a copyright clearance. The researcher is responsible for further copyright restrictions. The Plainfield Public Library is not responsible for the misuse of copyrighted material.

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Related Material

Finding Aid for the Historical Society of Plainfield.

DAR magazine index, V. 1-3 [National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, 1998] GENEALOGY 929.5 DAR V.1-3

Abstract of graves of revolutionary patriots, by Patricia Law Hatcher. [Pioneer Heritage Press, 1987-1988] GENEALOGY 929.3 H28 V.1-4

A history of the New Jersey State Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1891-1974 [New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution, 1972] NJR 369 D2H, GENEALOGY 369.13 NEW

A list of Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the New Providence Presbyterian Churchyard, New Providence, New Jersey, by Helen Cory Mercier. [National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Basking Ridge Chapter, no. 77, 1970] NJR 929.5 MER

DAR patriot index [Daughters of the American Revolution, 1966-1974, 1986] GENEALOGY 929.373 DAR

State History of the New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution, by Grace Louise Cadmus Ward. [1929] NJR 369 D2W

For more, please see the Plainfield Public Library Catalog.

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Organizations:

Places:

Subjects:

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Physical Charateristics or Technical Requirements

This collection consists of paper documents, which do not require any additional technology for access.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Identification of item; Date (if noted); the “Daughters of the American Revolution” collection, Box and Folder Number; Local History Department, Plainfield Public Library, Plainfield, New Jersey.

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated by the Continental Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Anna Henderson in August 2008. The finding aid was written by Anna Henderson in August 2008. Finding aid content follows the guidelines suggested by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.

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Detailed Description of the Collection