Soon after the American Revolution, prominent citizens began to form exclusive social organizations and join hereditary and patriotic societies. Many societies were organized in the late 1880s and 1890s when membership in these organizations became very popular.

These societies are generally involved in educational, cultural, social, and other programs to preserve the documents and memory of the past. They often maintain libraries and museums that can help you in your research. Most publish a periodical or newsletter, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine.

One of your ancestors or relatives may have submitted application papers containing his pedigree in order to join a lineage society. These records often include multi-generation pedigrees and information from family Bibles, death records, or military documents. They may also lead you to someone else interested in your family. Unfortunately, these papers have not always been carefully documented, but they can provide excellent clues for further research. Some societies allow only members to use their records.

The Family History Library has over 2,000 microfilms and numerous books of society records. These include application papers, yearbooks, ancestor rolls, membership rosters, and publications of the societies. For example, the library has microfilm copies of a card index and 100,000 applications for membership in:

Sons of the American Revolution. Membership Information, 1776-1996. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1996. (On 1,087 FHL films starting with 541473; computer number 438790.)

The library also has major collections from the following societies:

• General Society of Colonial Wars
• General Society of Mayflower Descendants
• Holland Society of New York
• National Society of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century
• National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
• National Society of New England Women
• National Society, Sons of the American Revolution
  

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is the largest and most popular lineage society in the United States. It has had over 188,000 members and several chapters in each state. This society actively encourages members to locate and transcribe records useful to genealogists. (See the “Archives and Libraries” section for the address of the national library of the DAR.) An index to the Revolutionary ancestors of DAR applicants is:

Daughters of the American Revolution. DAR Patriot Index. Centennial ed. 3 vols. Washington, D.C.: DAR, 1990. (FHL book 973 C42da 1990; fiche 6050647; computer number 696544.)

Military veterans organizations are described in the

Addresses, membership requirements, and information about most lineage and hereditary societies are in:

Roberts, Jayare, and Dorothy Hebertson, comps. Register of U.S. Lineage Societies. Salt Lake City: Family History Library, 1990. (FHL book 973 C43m 1990; fiche 6050647; computer number 590599.) This register gives call numbers and describes many of the society records available at the Family History Library.

The Hereditary Register of the United States of America. Annual. Yoncalla, Ore.: Hereditary Register Publications, 1972-. (FHL book 973 C4u 1986; computer number 34631.)

Family Associations

Many family organizations are gathering information about their ancestors and descendants. Some organizations are gathering information about all individuals with a particular surname. Family histories, newsletters, family group records, and other information gathered by family organizations are described in the “Genealogy” section. The Family Registry and the Ancestral File (also in the “Genealogy” section) can help you locate active associations. Some researchers have located family organizations and other researchers by posting queries on the Internet or by searching the membership directories of on-line computer genealogy groups. Also helpful is:

Bentley, Elizabeth Petty, comp. Directory of Family Associations. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1996. (FHL book 973 D24benb 1996; computer number 793967.)

Fraternal Organizations

Your ancestor or relative may have belonged to an association, lodge, or secret society whose membership is based on common interests, religion, or ethnicity. Many sources, such as local histories, biographies, obituaries, tombstones, family records, and artifacts may give you clues that an ancestor belonged to a fraternal society. Examples of these societies include:

• Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (Freemasonry)
• Order of Eastern Star
• International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF)
• Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)
• Lithuanian Alliance of America
• Ancient Order of Hibernians of America
• Knights of the Maccabees
• Modern Woodmen of America