It was October 11, 1890, and Mary Smith Lockwood, suffragist and writer, hosted the first meeting of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution at her home in Washington, DC.

There were 18 women in attendance at that first meeting, and four men—members of the Sons of the American Revolution, founded a year earlier—who would serve as the new group’s Advisory Board. That was ironic in that the Sons of the American Revolution had voted six months earlier not to allow women to join, which prompted the formation of the DAR.

The group began life with 11 dues paying members, and $33 in the bank.

Fast forward to 2026, and the organization, now based in Washington, DC boasts approximately 190,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States, as well as international chapters in countries such as Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Since its inception, the NSDAR has admitted more than one million members.

“As an organization committed to historic preservation, education and patriotism, we know that examining history helps us to better understand our nation’s long struggle to provide equality, justice and humanity for all Americans,” the NSDAR notes on its website. “We recognize that the United States of America was built on the promise of equality for all, and we share an obligation to help our nation fulfill that founding promise.”

Toward that end, the NSDAR describes its three primary objectives thusly:

“Historical - to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence; “Educational - to carry out the injunction of [George} Washington in his farewell address to the American people, ‘to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge, thus developing an enlightened public opinion…’ and “Patriotic - to cherish, maintain, and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty.”

One of the current NSDAR chapters is the Beaverkill Chapter in Sullivan County, founded in 1917, and based in Liberty. And this year, the Sullivan County Historical Society is honoring the chapter with its History Maker Award. The History Maker Award is one of two awards presented by the SCHS at its annual dinner each year, and this year the other, the History Preserver Award, will honor Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History in Narrowsburg. Both awards will be presented at the annual dinner, on Sunday, October 18 at the Rockland House in Roscoe.

In announcing the selection of the Beaverkill Chapter for the award, the SCHS acknowledged the organization’s many contributions in the realm of local history. “For over a century, patriotic aspects of Sullivan County history have been preserved through the Beaverkill Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution,” the SCHS noted. “Organized in 1917, this women’s organization of dedicated volunteers has worked tirelessly to keep our region’s Revolutionary roots alive by promoting genealogical research for membership lineage to colonial American patriots.”

Throughout its 110-year history, the Beaverkill Chapter has initiated historic preservation projects such as gravesite restoration and location of burial sites of Revolutionary War veterans. In 1917, the Chapter members fed the National Guardsmen who were detailed to guard the Sullivan County railroad bridges during World War I. Today, the Chapter helps commemorate the yearly ceremonies at the Minisink Battlefield as well as sponsor the Wreaths Across America project.

“Likewise, the Chapter supports local schools through sponsoring community and citizenship awards to our youth. For its commitment and dedication in preserving Sullivan County’s heritage, The Sullivan County Historical Society is pleased to award the Beaverkill Chapter DAR as this year’s SCHS History Maker for the year 2026.”

Two members of the Beaverkill Chapter, Lynn Priebe and Ruth Huggler, are members of the Sullivan County Semiquincentennial Commission, charged with coordinating events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American War for Independence thru 2033, and the chapter is participating in one of the Commission’s most significant undertakings-- an attempt to locate, clean up, and mark with a special Semiquincentennial marker the graves of Revolutionary War veterans throughout the county. It is believed there are more than 250 of them.

The Sullivan County Historical Society, Inc, was established on September 18, 1886 in order to preserve the history of Sullivan County for the enlightenment of future generations. According to its website, “this preservation is accomplished through the storage of historical records and documents, the acquisition of artifacts illustrative of different periods in the county’s history, and the mounting of both temporary and permanent exhibits.”

“The activities of the Society include regular meetings open to the public for the discussion of county history and broader historical questions, the careful preservation of records and artifacts, the maintenance of museum exhibits, the scheduling of educational tours, the encouragement of research, and the assisting of individuals and groups seeking specific information about aspects of county history.”

The SCHS annual dinner begins with a social hour at 2 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person and must be reserved by October 10. Contact SCHS president Suzanne Cecil for more information at scecil@scnyhistory.org.

John Conway is the Sullivan County Historian. Email him at jconway52@hotmail.com.