JOIN OUR JOURNEY TO
Preserve American History
Why Should You Join Us?
The SAR is the largest male lineage organization in the United States and is made up of numerous state societies and more than 500 chapters. Members of the SAR can trace their lineage back to a patriot who served in or supported the cause of the American Revolution. With more than 34,000 members around the world, SAR is also much more than just a lineage society.
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We are a living, breathing, and ever-evolving organization that invites Americans to connect to their personal past and civic history. We are called to make our mark on society and ensure that the stories of our nation’s struggles and our ancestors’ triumphs are remembered and shared with current and future generations.
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Being a SAR member involves you in your local and national community with telling the story of the Founding Fathers and the creation of the United States of America. It connects you to the history of the American Revolution by a direct means in tracing your lineage. It allows you to connect with others that also share that same type of connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I have more than one ancestor that supported the Revolutionary War? For your initial application for membership, select one patriot ancestor. That will be your primary patriot ancestor. Once that is approved and you are a SAR member, then you can submit additional "supplemental" applications for other patriot ancestors.
Can I use my relative's membership in SAR or DAR to help with my application? The short answer is - yes, you can! The long answer - You can cite previously approved SAR and DAR applications as references on your application, if they meet the following time line criteria: SAR applications approved after 2012 or DAR applications approved after 1985. SAR does not accept applications submitted before these times because the rigor in proving relationships was not as strict as today. However, you can use an earlier application as a guide to your own research when proving your lineage.
How do I start to prove my lineage to a patriot ancestor? An easy way to start is to draft a family tree line on paper or using genealogical software. Make notes of the evidence you have at each generation that proves relationship connections. Once you have collected the required documentation, share it with your chapter registrar and start the online application.
How and where do I fill out an application for membership in SAR? We recommend using the Digital Application Guide to create an account on the national website and start filling out an online application.
Who do I talk to about questions during the application process? Please contact your chapter registrar for any questions that you have about the application or getting help with your research. The registrar can view your application and guide you in your research.
What happens after I have finished filling out the application? The chapter registrar will submit your application to the Idaho state registrar for review. Once he is satisfied that it meets national standards, it will be submitted in paper form to the national registrar, along with the application fee and first year dues. The review process takes a few months to complete at the national level.
How much is the application fee for membership in SAR? The application fee is $150. When the application is submitted, dues for the first year are also paid. The national dues are $50. State dues are $40. Chapter dues are $20. Dues are applied to both the current year and the next year when the application is approved on or after Sep 1.