The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) are direct descendants of those patriots that achieved
independence for the thirteen American colonies previously governed by Great Britain.
OUR OBJECTIVES
The objectives of our organization are intended to perpetuate a more
profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers. We seek to maintain and
extend the institutions of American freedom, patriotism and respect for our national symbols, including but
not limited to promoting pride in being American citizens and the unifying force of e pluribus unum.
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR or SAR) was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in
Louisville, Kentucky. SAR is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving
American history, and promoting education to our future generations. SAR members volunteer untold hours of service
each year in their local communities. SAR is very active in assisting veterans. We proudly assist teachers with
living history interpreters, lesson planning materials and reenactment events for school aged youth to attend.
As one of the largest male societies in the country, SAR boasts tens of thousands of active members in over 550
chapters across the United States and internationally. Any male 18 years or older-regardless of race, religion,
or ethnic background-who can prove blood lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for
membership. We were on the razor’s edge in allowing DNA results to be used to prove descent for those with unclear
roots. SAR National Headquarters houses one of the nation’s premier genealogical libraries. NSSAR is a
Congressionally Chartered Organization and is exempt from Federal income taxes under the provisions of Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
A BRIEF HISTORY
In 1876, there were many celebrations to commemorate the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on
July 4, 1776. As part of this patriotic fervor, a group of men in the San Francisco, California, area who were
descendants of patriots involved in the American Revolution, formed an organization called the Sons of Revolutionary
Sires. Their objective was to have a fraternal and civic society to salute those men and women who pledged their lives,
fortunes, and sacred honor to the battle for independence from Great Britain. The Sons of Revolutionary Sires desired
to keep alive their ancestors’ story of patriotism and courage in the belief that it is a universal one of man’s
struggle against tyranny – a story which would inspire and sustain succeeding generations when they would have to
defend and extend our freedoms.
Out of the Sons of Revolutionary Sires grew the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, which was
organized on April 30, 1889, the one hundredth anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington as our nation’s
first president. We have used the acronym SAR to identify ourselves for over one hundred years. The SAR was conceived
as a fraternal and civic society composed of lineal descendants of the patriots who wintered at Valley Forge, signed
the Declaration of Independence, fought in the battles of the American Revolution, served in the Continental Congress,
or otherwise supported the cause of American Independence. The National Society was chartered by an Act of the United
States Congress on June 9, 1906. The charter was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, who was also a member of the
Empire State Society, SAR. The charter authorizes the granting of charters to societies of the various states and
territories and authorizes the state-level societies to charter chapters within their borders. United States Code
TITLE 36 USC then established a federal charter for the National Society, SAR.
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