Alleghany Chapter: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution

Records, 1890-1994, n.d., Ms95-019, 3.5 cu. ft

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Introduction:

The Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) was formed in 1890 as an organization to "perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence, by the acquisition and protection of historical spots, and the erection of monuments; by the encouragement of historical research in relation to the Revolution and the publication of its results; by the preservation of documents and relics, and of the records of the individual services of the Revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and by the promotion of celebrations of all patriotic anniversaries." The motto is "God, Home and Country." Membership in the D.A.R. is eligible to any woman "of at least eighteen year of age who descended from a man or women who served as a sailor or soldier or civil officer in one of the several Colonies or States, or in the United Colonies or States, or as a recognized patriot, or rendered material aid thereto."

The Alleghany Chapter was organized in Blacksburg, Virginia, in January 1911. The first officers of the chapter were Mrs. Paul Barringer, Regent; Miss Ellen McDonald, Vice-Regent; Mrs. Alexander Black, Treasurer; Mrs. J.S.A. Johnson, Recording Secretary; Mrs. Nelson Mayo, Corresponding Secretary; and Mrs. James Otey, Registrar and Chair of the History Committee. Many of the charter members were descended from pioneers who held land in the New River section of the Alleghany Mountains, now known as "Trans-Alleghany Pioneers." The original members chose the name "Alleghany" over an individual hero of the Revolutionary War as their name, to preserve the colonial history and traditions of the region.

The chapter members erected several markers in Blacksburg and the region memorializing people and events of its colonial history. Most noteworthy is the marker at Barger Fort on Ribbles Spring in Christiansburg, on the grave of Revolutionary soldier and early settler Giles Thomas in the Blacksburg Cemetery, and in memory of Col. William Patton and the pioneers who lost their lives in the Drapers Meadow Massacre in 1755, placed near Smithfield Plantation in Blacksburg.

Scope and Content:

The records consist of rosters, DAR magazines, constitutions and by-laws, yearbooks, scrapbooks, news bulletins, obituaries of members, and the original charter of the chapter.

Provenance:

The records of the Alleghany Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, were given as a permanent deposit to the Special Collections Department of the University Libraries of Virginia Tech in July 1995, with materials added in May 1997. The collection was processed in November 1996 and October 1997 by Helen Harrison and Gina Ellis, student assistants, and Laura Katz Smith, Manuscripts Curator.

Contents List:

Box 1

• Folder 1: 1890-1958--Roster of Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution, bound book.
• Folder 2: 1892-1936--Roster of Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution, bound book.
• Folder 3: 1898--National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book.

Box 2

• Folder 1: 1908--Early history of Daughters of the American Revolution booklet.
• Folder 2: 1928-32--National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution magazines.
• Folder 3: 1940-89--National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution citizenship, protocol, and procedure manuals and Constitution and By-laws (Folder 1 of 2).
• Folder 4: 1940-89--National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution citizenship, protocol, and procedure manuals and Constitution and By-laws (Folder 2 of 2).
• Folder 5: 1947-77--Alleghany Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution yearbooks and supplements.
• Folder 6: 1959-65--Supplements to the Roster of Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution.Box 3
• Folder 1: 1960-87--History of the Alleghany Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
• Folder 2: 1962-91--Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution news bulletins.
• Folder 3: 1964--History of Chapter Names, Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution, bound book.
• Folder 4: 1968-74--Placement of markers on graves of revolutionary soldiers, newspaper articles.
• Folder 5: 1969-87--Alleghany Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution annual meeting programs, newspaper articles.
• Folder 6: 1971--Drapers Meadow massacre marker.
• Folder 7: 1973--Grave marking ceremony for Colonel William Preston and wife Susanna Smith.
• Folder 8: 1976-80--Placement of markers on graves of Daughters of the American Revolution members.
• Folder 9: 1977-95--Alleghany Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution yearbooks and supplements.

Box 4

• Folder 1: 1978-92--Miscellaneous newspaper clippings, programs, and papers.
• Folder 2: 1981-85--Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution State Conference programs.
• Folder 3: 1981-88--National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Continental Congress programs.
• Folder 4: 1982-92--National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution directories of committees.
• Folder 5: 1984-87--Public relations literature.
• Folder 6: 1989-90--National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution centennial celebration information.
• Folder 7: 1992-93--Obituaries of Daughters of the American Revolution members.
• Folder 8: 1992-94--Photographs from Daughters of the American Revolution meetings.
• Folder 9: n.d.--National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution schools.

Box 5

• Folder 1: 1980-83--Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution yearbooks (Folder 1 of 3).
• Folder 2: 1985-88--Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution yearbooks (Folder 2 of 3).
• Folder 3: 1989-91--Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution yearbooks (Folder 3 of 3).

Oversized boxes

Box 6: Scrapbooks: 1931-80, 1953-63, 1964-71, 1971-73.
Box 7: Scrapbooks: 1980-87, 1989-92.
Box 8: 1912--Framed charter of the Alleghany Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and framed awards, 1942-53.

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Return to:
Guide to the Manuscript Collections in the University Libraries
Manuscript sources for Appalachian History
Manuscript sources for Montgomery County, Virginia, History
Manuscript sources for Women's History Research

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