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Membership Information
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. If there is any doubt about an ancestor's
service, your local chapter will be glad to help clarify your eligibility.
HOW TO APPLY
Instructions and a Worksheet can be found on a separate page. Further
information can be obtained from the Registrar of the Ft. Dearborn - Chicago Chapter,
Charles Wells,
through the Contacting Us page.
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 worksheet is accepted, three checks will be needed, one for fifty-five dollars ($55.00) , one for twenty-seven dollars ($27.00), and another one for fifteen dollars ($15.00). The Registrar will advise of the payees. 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 transfer card.
Once accepted as a member, annual National, State and Chapter
dues thereafter total fifty-two dollars ($52.00).
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.
GETTING STARTED TOWARD MEMBERSHIP
( or, Genealogy 101 revisited)
The following pages contain a worksheet that has proven helpful to many applicants in organizing the genealogical proofs necessary for membership. 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.
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. Indices of patriotic service are not acceptable.
For more complete information, see the Instruction page.
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 local chapter for guidance over
the rough spots -- Our goal is to help you get in,
not to keep you out.
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Contacting Us
Who We Are
What We Do
Forms and Instructions
Chicago Area Genealogical Societies
