The National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America (often abbreviated as NSDFPA) is a lineage society for women who directly descend from an American colonist who arrived in the colonies between May 13, 1607, and May 13, 1687, and who directly descend from a patriot of the

American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...

History

The National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America was founded on June 7, 1898, by Eugenia Washington, a great-grandniece of

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

who previously co-founded the

Daughters of the American Revolution The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (often abbreviated as DAR or NSDAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a patriot of the American Revolutionary War. A non-p ...

in 1890, Mrs. Henry V. Boynton, and Mrs. William L. Mason. She established the lineage society as a means to preserve Colonial American history, foster patriotism, and encourage appreciation for American history. Washington wanted to avoid "bickering" among a large number of members, which she experienced in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and decided that this national society would "remain small and cordial" by excluding membership only to women who were direct descendants of a colonist who arrived in America between May 13, 1607, and May 13, 1687, and that they also meet the membership qualifications for the Daughters of the American Revolution. Up until 1975, the society published thirty-four volumes of lineage records of its members, which were made availablle at many libraries. In 1975, the national society consolidated all records into one volume and published an index to its lineage records. Washington intended for the society to not surpass 300 members but, by the 1980s, there were over 2,800 members.

Notable members

* Margaret Ann Scruggs Carruth (1892–1988), etcher, printmaker, illustrator and educator *

Mildred Adams Fenton Mildred Adams Fenton (November 14, 1899 – December 7, 1995) trained in paleontology and geology at the University of Iowa. She coauthored dozens of general science books with her husband, Carroll Lane Fenton, including ''Records of Evolution' ...

(1899–1995), paleontologist and geologist *

Grace Gemberling Grace Thorp Gemberling (July 31, 1903 – December 26, 1997) was an American artist known for the broad range of her subjects in paintings having a pronounced psychological as well as aesthetic impact. One critic said they conveyed a mood that wa ...

(1903–1997), painter * Sallie Foster Harshbarger (1874–1958), lineage society leader * Sarah Corbin Robert (1886–1972), lineage society leader * Betty Newkirk Seimes, lineage society leader * Eugenia Washington (1838–1900), historian, civil servant, and lineage society leader *

Jeanne Fox Weinmann Jeanne Fox Weinmann (September 19, 1874 – August 6, 1962) was an American clubwoman, socialite, and historian who served as President General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and as President National of the U.S. Daughters of 1812. Sh ...

(1874–1962), lineage society leader *

Edith Wire Edith Louise Wire (July 1899 – June 26, 1973) was an American composer, writer, and pianist with a strong interest in American history. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and lived in her childhood home her entire life, with her brother Lester ...

(1899–1973), composer and pianist *

Kathryn Slaughter Wittichen Kathryn Elizabeth Slaughter Wittichen (January 8, 1896 – June 22, 1985) was an American socialite and clubwoman. She was a leader in various women's organizations, serving as president of the Miami Women's Club from 1938 to 1939 and as president ...

(1896–1985), clubwoman and lineage society leader *

Merry Ann Thompson Wright Merry Ann Thompson Wright (February 25, 1943 – December 18, 2022) was an American businesswoman who served as the CEO of the American Lung Association of Central New York and as the 42nd president general of the National Society Daughters of the ...

(1943–2022), lineage society leader

History

Notable members

References

See also