Monday, May 8, 2017

DAR Lineage Books and DAR Patriot Index - Helpful Information


DAR Lineage Books:


Not all of the info was every submitted for verification the DAR staff genealogists.  Each person did become a member; however, the lineage books included lineages that were never submitted or vetted by the National Society. As such, they are not considered “canonical” and cannot be used for membership. Just as with any derivative work, careful researchers will use them with a grain of salt. Most, if not all of them, have been digitized either through Google Books or Ancestry.

 

DAR Patriot Index:


From an historical point of view, the different editions of the Patriot Index will allow users to track minor changes in a patriot’s record.  However, for many years the changes to the Patriot Index were published in the DAR Newsletter or Magazine.  The published changes are often more informative in that they will usually indicate what specifically was changed, (but not with any sources listed). The Millennium Edition (2003) is the last edition. The Patriot Index will not be published again. Instead, the GRS provides researchers with the same information, and much more.  Changes to the Patriot or individuals in the lineage can be tracked by using the Descendants Database, which provides a transcription of each verified membership application and/or supplemental applications.  The transcriptions are based on what is listed on the application so if new data for dates and places of birth, death or marriage are added, researchers can see these changes by comparing the most recent listings for a patriot with older ones.  Changes to the patriot’s service and/or residence cannot be tracked through the Descendants Database.  Clues to when something might have changed will be found in the list of verified Member Applications (on the Full Record).  Look for “CN” next to a National Number. This is an indication that a correction to the patriot’s record was made on that paper.


Elizabeth J. Ernst
Catalog Librarian
DAR Library
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

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