Using Online Resourcesof the NSDAR

June 16, 2012

by Becky and James Osbourn

A program for the Spirit of St Louis Chapter, SAR

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How Well Do YOU Know the DAR Websites?

Not at All A Little Bit Pretty Well Expert!0

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“I Know Them…”

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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!

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NSDAR Websites• Basically, there are 2 NSDAR websites:

One for the Publichttp://www.dar.org

One for Members Only

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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)http://www.dar.org/natsociety/

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MSSDAR Websites• Similarly, there are 2 MSSDAR websites:

One for the Publichttp://www.mssdar.org/

One for Members Only

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MSSDAR Public Site• Tells About

Missouri State Society DAR– Our Chapters– Roslyn Heights– Patriots of the

Month…

• Informs prospective members how to contact us!

http://www.mssdar.org/

Volunteer Information Specialists (VIS)

Website of the Month October 2010!

Spotlight on theNSDAR Website

Genealogical Research

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NSDAR Genealogy Resources

• Are you researching a line?

• Leverage the NSDAR public website!

On the home page, click on “Genealogy” for available online resources…

http://www.dar.org/library/

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How to Begin…

NSDAR recommends 5 steps:Step 1: Organize What You Know and Have In Your

PossessionStep 2: Prove Information and Dates On Your

WorksheetStep 3: Determine What Information You Want To

Look ForStep 4: Identify Your Sources for ResearchStep 5: Research, Research, Research

The website offers pointers for each step.http://www.dar.org/natsociety/content.cfm?ID=95&hd=n&FO=Y

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Online Research Use the DAR Genealogical Research

System (GRS) for Online Research

There are several Online Research options to choose…

http://www.dar.org/library/online_research.cfm

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About the GRS• The Genealogical Research System has Ancestor,

Member and Descendants information.• 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.

http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/Search/

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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.

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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.

http://www.dar.org/library/record_copy.cfm

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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.

DAR does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any application.

See Application Record Copy Limitations on http://www.dar.org/library/record_copy.cfm.

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A Case Study: Hedges

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Joseph Hedges, Soldier

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Ancestor Tab Search

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Pick Ancestor # A054117

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Member Tab View

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Descendants List View

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New Search

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Disconnected!

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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

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Credit to NSDAR (www.dar.org)and MSSDAR (www.mssdar.org)