Using Online Resources of the NSDAR June 16, 2012 by Becky and James Osbourn A program for the Spirit of St Louis Chapter, SAR

How Well Do YOU Know the DAR Websites? 2

What We’ll Highlight Today About the Websites Using the Websites – How to Use them (including where to find them) – Things You Can Expect (and What Not to Expect) – Getting Help → All NSDAR sites → B MSSDAR sites → Chapter DAR sites We’ll cover what YOU want to know! 3

NSDAR NSDAR Websites Basically, there are 2 NSDAR websites: One for the Public One for Members Only 4

NSDAR NSDAR Public Site Tells About DAR – DAR Museum – DAR Library – American Spirit magazine – DAR Scholarships and Grants… Informs prospective members Supports genealogical research – including ordering Record Copies (on-line) 5

MSSDAR MSSDAR Websites Similarly, there are 2 MSSDAR websites: One for the Public One for Members Only 6

MSSDAR MSSDAR Public Site Tells About Missouri State Society DAR – Our Chapters – Roslyn Heights – Patriots of the Month… Informs prospective members how to contact us! Volunteer Information Specialists (VIS) Website of the Month October 2010! 7

Spotlight on the NSDAR Website Genealogical Research

NSDAR Genealogy Resources Are you researching a line? Leverage the NSDAR public website! 9 On the home page, click on “Genealogy” for available online resources…

How to Begin… NSDAR recommends 5 steps: Step 1: Organize What You Know and Have In Your Possession Step 2: Prove Information and Dates On Your Worksheet Step 3: Determine What Information You Want To Look For Step 4: Identify Your Sources for Research Step 5: Research, Research, Research 10 The website offers pointers for each step.

Online Research 11 Use the DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS) for Online Research There are several Online Research options to choose…

About the GRS The Genealogical Research System has Ancestor, Member and Descendants information.Genealogical Research System 12 Use the Ancestor tab to search for a patriot. Use the Member tab to search for basic information on a member’s ancestor record using their national number or name. Use the Descendants tab to search an index of the names found on the lineage page of DAR applications and supplementals.

Search for a Record 1.Click a tab. For example, “Member”. 2.Click “Enter Site”. 3.On the “Search” page enter a value, and click on “Search”. 4.Once found, navigate to other information (in this case, the Ancestor Record) by clicking on the graphic… 5.From the Ancestor Record, you can navigate to Descendants

Want a copy? Order a “Record Copy” Q:What is a “Record Copy”? A:Copies of previously verified DAR membership applications. Q:What does that give me? A:Record copies only consist of the application, and not copies of the supporting documentation that originally accompanied it. The latter is available through the Library Search Service. Q:What does a Record Copy cost? A:Beginning in November 2010, the cost of each record copy ordered will be $10.00 for orders placed electronically with a credit card and $15.00 for orders placed by mail or by fax. 14

Be Aware… of Limitations DAR does not have information on every patriot serving during the American Revolution, only those established by DAR members. DAR does not guarantee that the information found on any application is the most current or that it is now accepted by the DAR Genealogy Department. The record copies are sent as additional tools for use in your research. Older forms from the 1890s or early to mid-20th century did not require certain information at the time the paper was prepared. Short form applications (two-page forms) may not contain full lineage, reference, and service information, because they only go back from a member a few generations and then tie in with another earlier paper that traces back to a Revolutionary War patriot ancestor. 15 DAR does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any application. See Application Record Copy Limitations on

A Case Study: Hedges 16

Joseph Hedges, Soldier 17

Ancestor Tab Search 18

Pick Ancestor # A

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Member Tab View 26

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Descendants List View 29

New Search 30

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Disconnected! 33

Summary A great public resource A model of disciplined, progressive change Just as correct as the submitted lineages Not a full-fledged Genealogy Database Not a substitute for your own research A tool that researchers should use A tool that SAR applicants should understand 34

Credit to NSDAR ( and MSSDAR ( 35