 | |
| Named after | Sons of Liberty |
|---|---|
| Established | February 22, 1876 (1876-02-22) (first state society) April 19, 1890 (1890-04-19) (General Society) |
| Founder | John Austin Stevens |
| Founded at | New York City |
| Type | Patrioticsociety |
| 23-6269069 | |
| Legal status | Nonprofitcorporation |
| Headquarters | 412 West Francis Street,Williamsburg, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37°16′09″N76°42′24″W / 37.269293°N 76.706717°W /37.269293; -76.706717 |
Region served | Worldwide |
Official language | English |
Publication | Drumbeat |
| Website | sr1776 |
TheSons of the Revolution (SR), formally theGeneral Society of the Sons of the Revolution (GSSR), is apatrioticsociety headquartered atWilliamsburg, Virginia,United States. Anonprofitcorporation, the Sons of the Revolution was founded byJohn Austin Stevens on February 22, 1876, inNew York City. The organization is governed by a board of managers, an executive committee, officers, standing committees and their members, and staff. It includes 28 state societies and chapters worldwide.[1] The Sons of the Revolution's objectives are to maintain and extend "perpetuate the memory of the men, who in the military, naval and civil service of theColonies and of theContinental Congress by their acts orcounsel, achieved the Independence of the Country, and to further the proper celebration of the anniversaries of the birthday ofWashington, and of prominent events connected with theWar of the Revolution; to collect and secure for preservation therolls, records, and other documents relating to that period; to inspire the members of the Society with the patriotic spirit of the forefathers; to promote the feeling of friendship among them."[2]
Membership is open to "Any male person above the age of eighteen years, of good character, and a descendant of one who, as a military, naval, or marine officer, soldier, sailor or marine, in actual service, under the authority of the originalthirteen Colonies or States or of theContinental Congress, and remaining always loyal to such authority, or a descendant of one who signed theDeclaration of Independence, or of one who, as a member of the Continental Congress or of the Congress of any of the Colonies or States, or as an official appointed by or under the authority of any such legislative bodies, actually assisted in the establishment of American Independence by services rendered during theWar of Revolution, becoming thereby liable to conviction of treason, against the government ofGreat Britain, but remaining always loyal to the authority of the Colonies or States, or who served honorably in a military or naval expedition against the British during the War of the Revolution under the authority of theFrench orSpanish governments."[2]
Junior, senior and life memberships are also available. Members receive benefits[3][4] which include:
Based on the President's message from 2015, there are approximately 5,000 members.[5]
Sons of the Revolution was founded on February 22, 1876, inNew York City, primarily by leading members of theSociety of the Cincinnati and the businessmanJohn Austin Stevens. He disagreed with Society of the Cincinnati requirements limiting membership to the eldest male descendants based on the rules ofprimogeniture.[6] Stevens held a preliminary meeting on December 18, 1875, at theNew-York Historical Society at New York.[7] At a second meeting held in January 1876, the first constitution was adopted and a flier which invited members was published.
After a few years of little activity, an elaborate "turtle feast" was held on December 4, 1883, in the Long Room of the historicFraunces Tavern. The banquet was to commemorate the centennial of General George Washington's farewell speech there to his officers.[8][9][10] The 1883 dinner helped recruit 40 new members, and the group was reorganized as the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York Inc. In the early years after the reorganization, Society of the Cincinnati President-GeneralHamilton Fish gave support and encouragement to the New York Society. In his obituary, he described Sons members as "Younger brothers of the Cincinnati".[citation needed]
From the beginning, the Society's membership included both residents ofNew York City and gentlemen from nearby states with business or other ties in the city. In 1884 the Society constitution was amended to provide that state societies may organize as "auxiliary branches", and the growth in membership by 1888 made this more likely.[6] The first of the new state societies, thePennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, was organized on April 3, 1888. This was accomplished chiefly through the efforts of John W. Jordan, later librarian of theHistorical Society of Pennsylvania, and Josiah Granville Leach.[6]
The creation of the Pennsylvania Society started a debate over the Society constitution, particularly over who would charter or create new state societies. The Pennsylvania Society was created by members independent of the New York Society. On March 11, 1889, The Sons of the Revolution in the District of Columbia was chartered by the New York Society.
This debate was resolved by the creation of the General Society. The General Society constitution was proposed on February 12, 1890, in Philadelphia and adopted on March 8, 1890, in New York. Members of the three state societies held a meeting on April 19, 1890, in Washington to inaugurate the General Society. The General Society charters new societies but, "The State Societies shall regulate all matters respecting their own affairs".[2]
In the next few years, several more state societies were formed and the General Society developed a more national character.[citation needed]
The General Society and state societies offer patriotic, historical and educational activities for their members and the public. In addition to various dinners, exhibits and holiday events, the societies organize the following specific activities. Several state societies own and operate historic buildings.
Since its founding, the General Society has held triennial meetings of the membership. The 41st meeting was held on October 4 through 7, 2012 inSavannah, Georgia, by theGeorgia society. The 42nd meeting was held on October 1 through 4, 2015, inWilliamsburg, Virginia, by the Virginia Society.[citation needed]
The General Society has established various citizen awards, given to individuals and state societies for their work to continue the SR mission and honor the memory of the participants of the Revolution. The awards include the Modern Patriot Award, the Patrick Henry Award, the Jay Harris Award, the Richard Farmer Hess Leadership Award, the Trent Trophy, the Membership Achievement Award and the Presidential Commendation of Merit.[citation needed]
Since 1904, the New York Society has owned and operated the Fraunces Tavern as a museum and restaurant. They restored the building, which had a prominent place in pre-Revolution and Revolution history. The society claims the tavern isManhattan's oldest surviving building.[11]
The Fraunces Tavern Museum maintains several galleries of art and artifacts about the Revolution, including the McEntee "Sons of the Revolution" Gallery that displays much of the Society history.[12]
The Rhode Island society has maintained Green End Fort, in theVillage of Green's End on the border ofNewport andMiddletown, since 1969 when its owner,Newport Historical Society, "expressed hope that the Sons would 'maintain the Fort as a memorial and eventually acquire the property.'" The fort was believed to have been built in 1777 by British troops as part of the defenses of Newport, but more recent scholarship indicates it was probably built by the French army underComte de Rochambeau in 1780.[13]
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Several state societies have placed Society markers and wreaths at the graves of identified revolutionary patriots; for instance, theMassachusetts society placed markers at the graves ofSamuel Adams andJames Otis Jr., which are located in theGranary Burying Ground inBoston. The General Society joined the Georgia society in 2005 to place a wreath at the re-interment of U.S. Brigadier GeneralCasimir Pulaski inSavannah, Georgia.[14]
Since July 4, 1969, the Pennsylvania society has sponsored "Let Freedom Ring", a nationwide celebration of those who helped achieve the nation's independence during the Revolution.[15][16][17] According toU.S. SenateConcurrent Resolution 25 of 1963, bells across the nation are rung 13 times at exactly 2:00 p.m.EDT in honor of the 13 original states represented by the signers of theDeclaration of Independence. At the appointed hour, four young descendants of the signers tap Philadelphia's famousLiberty Bell, setting off the chimes of freedom from bell towers throughout the nation. A series of related patriotic festivities take place in theIndependence Hall area, including a colorful parade of Revolutionary War flags,fifes and drums, and awreath-laying ceremony at theTomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War inWashington Square.[18]
The General Society and several State Societies have established various educational and military awards, which are given to individuals and groups for their academic or service performance. The awards include the Annapolis Cup, which was created in 1905 and given annually by the general society and theMaryland society to aU.S. Naval Academymidshipman;[19] the Knox Trophy (New York), which was created in 1910 and given annually by the New York society to aU.S. Military Academy at West Point cadet;[20] the Capt.Gustavus Conyngham Award which was created in 1999 and given annually by the New York society to aU.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point midshipman;[20] the Recognition Award, which was created in 2002 and given annually by the Massachusetts society to aU.S. Army ROTC cadet;[21] and the Knox Trophy (Massachusetts), which was created in 1924 and given annually until 1940 by the Massachusetts society to aU.S. Armyfield-artillery battery and a "redleg" artilleryman.[22]
The New York society has organized infrequentEvacuation Day observances of the anniversary of the British departure on November 25, 1783, from New York after the Revolution. After a controversialNew York Police Department denial on May 21, 2008,[23] of a New York society application for a parade permit, officials accepted the application on July 30, 2008,[24] for society members to march downBroadway fromNew York City Hall toBattery Park, "wherereenactors in period costumes will lower aUnion Jack and raise theStars and Stripes in a symbolic reprise of what happened in 1783. British and French diplomats, along with others who had roles in the American colonies' struggle for independence," were invited to attend.[25][26][27][28]
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Many notable celebrities and public leaders in the United States have been members of the Sons of the Revolution.
They include the following persons:
