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National Society of United States Daughters of 1812

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National Society of
United States Daughters of 1812
AbbreviationUSD 1812
NSUSD 1812
Named afterThe War of 1812
EstablishedJanuary 8, 1892
(134 years ago) (1892-01-08)
FounderFlora Adams Darling
Founded atCleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Type501(c)(3), patriotic society
Tax ID no. 53-0116360
HeadquartersAdmiral John Henry Upshur House
1461 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C.
Coordinates38°54′30″N 77°02′03″W / 38.90835°N 77.03418°W / 38.90835; -77.03418
Region served
United States
Members6,000[1]
Cher Sesma[2]
AffiliationsGeneral Society of the War of 1812
Websiteusdaughters1812.org

The National Society of United States Daughters of 1812 (USD 1812), commonly known as the U.S. Daughters of 1812, is a lineage-based patriotic society headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was established by Flora Adams Darling in 1892 in Cleveland, Ohio and incorporated in 1901 by the United States Congress.[1] Membership is limited to women who are lineal descendants of people who performed military or civil service for the United States between 1784 and 1815.

History

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The National Society was established on January 8, 1892 in Cleveland, Ohio by the author Flora Adams Darling, a member of the Adams political family, for the purpose of perpetuating the memory of the founders of the United States, with their records of service in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and War of 1812.[3][4]

In 1908, the National Society donated £250 to help fund the addition of stained glass by Franz Mayer of Munich at the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Princetown, England.[5] The church was built by prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars and finished by those captured during the War of 1812 who were held in the nearby Dartmoor Prison.[6][7] The National Society's contribution of the stained glass commemorated the lives of those who died in the War of 1812 and the Americans who were imprisoned at Dartmoor.[5] The stained glass windows were installed in 1910 and the National Society placed a memorial plaque at the American Prisoner of War Cemetery in 1928.[8]

Stained glass at St Michael and All Angels Church, donated by the U.S. Daughters of 1812

In 1918, the Maryland Society of the U.S. Daughters of 1812, led by Ella Virginia Houck Holloway of Baltimore, launched a campaign to establish Francis Scott Key's "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the official national anthem of the United States.[9] This led Congressman John Linthicum of Maryland to introduce a bill in Congress to establish the national anthem, but it failed to gain support.[10] On January 30, 1930, representatives from sixty patriotic organizations rallied for support of the national anthem in Washington, D.C. The bill passed in the House of Representatives on April 21, 1930 and in the Senate on March 3, 1931.[10] President Herbert Hoover signed the bill into law later that day.[10]

In 1921, President National Ida Sherman Jenne, on behalf of the national society, donated an archived list of American prisoners of war from the War of 1812 to the Navy Department Library at the Washington Navy Yard.[11] The national society also presented a library to the battleship USS Arkansas (BB-33).[12]

In 1925, under the leadership of Kate Embry Dowdle Davis, the national society led various patriotic societies in financing and fundraising for the restoration of the USS Constitution.[13]

In 1927, Jenne and Davis, along with young members serving as pages, where received at the White House by President Calvin Coolidge.[14]

On April 26, 1936, the national society presented an 1812 banner to the Washington National Cathedral.[15]

Organization

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A USD 1812 insignia from 1902

The National Society of United States Daughters of 1812 admits women who are lineal descendants from an ancestor who assisted in the War of 1812, either as an officer, soldier, sailor, or in any way gave aid to the war effort.[16]

The official insignia of the national society is a single star resting upon an anchor and encircled with a narrow band, representing the star of hope upon the anchor of fate within the circle of friendship.[17]

The national society functions as a non-profit, non-political, women’s service organization focused on promoting patriotism, increasing knowledge of American history by the preservation of documents and relics, marking historic spots, and educating the public about the roles and deeds of those in civil, military, and naval life who contributed to the development and growth of the United States between the close of the American Revolution and the close of the War of 1812.[2] They place historical markers throughout the country.[18]

Their Associate Council national conference is held annually in Washington, D.C.[2]

Headquarters

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Mast of the U.S.S. Constitution at USD1812 Headquarters.

The National Society is headquartered at the Admiral John Henry Upshur House, located at 1461 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. in Washington, D.C.[19] They purchased the property in 1928.[19] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.[19] The national headquarters houses the 1812 Memorial Library and the 1812 Museum.[20][21]

In April 1935, President National Jeanne Fox Weinmann presented the national society with a mast from the U.S.S. Constitution to be displayed at the National Headquarters.[22]

Notable members

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President National Kate Embry Dowdle Davis and pages of the U.S. Daughters of 1812 with President Calvin Coolidge at the White House in 1927
U.S. Daughters of 1812 founder Florda Adams Darling

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 "About the National Society United States Daughters of 1812". National Society United States Daughters of 1812. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "USD 1812 Awards Author Donald Shomette The Spirit Of 1812 Medal". The Baynet. April 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  3. ↑ "National Society, United States Daughters of 1812 records". Connecticut State Library. Hartford, Connecticut. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  4. ↑ Flora Adams Darling Papers, 1862–1908, Special Collections Research Center, College of William and Mary, retrieved October 30, 2011
  5. 1 2 Historic England. "Church of St Michael (1507817)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved October 17, 2010.
  6. ↑ Campbell, Sophie (May 1, 2009). "Dartmoor prison turns to captivating tourists". The Telegraph. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Potted History of Princetown". High Moorland Community Action Ltd. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Dartmoor prisoners' march anniversary held". BBC. London, England. June 4, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  9. ↑ Villanueva, Jari. "The Star Spangled Banner adoption as our national anthem". Taps Bugler. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Weeklies, Kent (August 26, 2015). "Letter: Daughters of 1812 declare Sept. 14 Star Spangled Banner Day". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ Smith, Isabel; Snow, Elliot (March 24, 1926). "Historical Sketch of the Navy Department Library and War Records". Naval History and Heritage Command. Washington, D.C.: United States Navy. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  12. ↑ Woman's Who's Who Of America, 1914-15. 1915. p. 233. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ Krafft, Herman F. (July 26, 1925). "New Lease of Life for Old Ironsides". United States Naval Institute. Annapolis, Maryland. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  14. ↑ "President Coolidge and pages at Convention of Daughters of 1812. The pretty girls from all parts of the country who are acting as pages at the annual convention of the Daughters of 1812 in Washington, were greeted by President Coolidge at the White House today. In the center of photograph, left to right: Mrs. Samuel Preston Davis, of Little Rock, Ark., President General; President Coolidge and Mrs. Clarence F.R. Jenne, Honorary President General". Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Daughters of 1812 Will Hold National Meeting in Washington". The Richmond News Leader. Richmond, Virginia. April 1, 1936. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  16. ↑ "United States Daughters of 1812" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
  17. ↑ Capetillo, Emily (May 26, 2025). "Grave marking ceremony for a War of 1812 veteran". Preston Hollow Advocate. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ "United States Daughters of 1812, National Society Historical Markers". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 Eve Barsoum (August 1997). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: United States Daughters of 1812, National Headquarters / Admiral John Henry Upshur House". and accompanying three photos from 1989 and 1995
  20. ↑ "1812 Memorial Library". U.S. Daughters of 1812. Washington, D.C.: National Society of the United States Daughters of 1812. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  21. ↑ "1812 Museum". U.S. Daughters of 1812. Washington, D.C.: National Society of the United States Daughters of 1812. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  22. ↑ "1812 Museum". U.S. Daughters of 1812. Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
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