Many genealogists and family historians, as well as others interested in history, have considered joining a lineage society such as the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, or the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. The process can be daunting, especially to applicants who don’t have a lot of experience tracing their family trees.
Here are some common questions and answers that can help you determine if you have the information you need to join a society based on lineage. For most societies, you will need the birth, death, and marriage date and location for your direct line. You will also need documentation to prove the connections between each generation.
I can’t find a birth certificate for my ancestor. What can I do?
Proofs of birth (both date and location) are needed, but birth certificates are a relatively new phenomenon, and the legal requirement to record births was not instituted nationwide until after 1900. However, newspaper announcements, letters mentioning the birth of a child, and family Bible records may often be substituted. Published obituaries often give the birth date and place, and sketches of residents (that also include this information) were published in many counties in the Midwestern states in the 1900s.
Can I use information in a commercially published book?
It depends. If the book was published commercially, and it includes sources for the information (courthouse records, county or state birth and death records, etc.), the chances are good that you can use it for your documentation. If the book simply states a lot of facts, but doesn’t back them up with research, it probably won’t be acceptable.
One thing to consider – some lineage societies will accept the information in a published book even without specific sources, under certain conditions. Thus if the author of a book was living at the time of the events described in the book, and could reasonably known that the events were true, it might be accepted as proof. For example, if Mary Smith, writing in 1895, stated that her mother Lily died in 1870, she very likely knew what she was talking about. If her granddaughter, writing in 1940, says that Lily died in 1870, it’s a different story since she wasn’t alive at the time.
Can I use a book a relative compiled that includes trees going back to Charlemagne?
A “family book,” like a commercially published book, also requires sources for the information. Such a book can be a wonderful starting point, and will give you plenty of help in where to search for records, but can’t be used as a source by itself. Once again, you will need official birth and death records, obituaries published in newspapers, Bible records, or other authoritative sources.
I’m adopted. Can I still join a lineage society?
Most lineage societies require blood line ancestry, meaning that you cannot join based on your adoptive parents’ lineage. For those societies requiring such ancestry, you can join based on your birth parents’ lineage. Anyone considering a lineage society should check with the particular organization for their specific requirements.
What if one of my ancestors was illegitimate?
This may or may not be a problem – it depends on the specific lineage society. The Daughters of the American Revolution, for example, does not require legitimacy, just proof of lineal descent. This means that as long as you prove the descent, the lack of a marriage is not important.
Should I hire a professional genealogist?
While many people can find the documentation they need for a lineage society, it’s not always easy. Rather than learn all the tricks of the trade, you might want to hire someone to do it for you. The Association for Professional Genealogists has a website where you can find professional assistance. Along the left margin of the home page, under Find a Specialist, you will find various specialties including Lineage Societies. Click this link for a list of professional researchers who can help you with your application.
How can I make sure I get in?
There are no sure things when it comes to lineage society applications. Each society has its own requirements, and its own system for verifying application information. The tips described here can’t guarantee success, but they will help make the process easier, and increase the likelihood that your application will be accepted.
Katharine Garstka - Katharine Garstka specializes in genealogical research and in historical and genealogical writing.
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