REC/MSS/120. Daughters of 1812, National Society of United States

The Society was organized on January 8, 1892. To become eligible for membership, a prospective member was required to trace her genealogy directly to an ancestor who had served in the United States military or civil service between 1784 and 1815. Chief among the Society’s purposes was the dissemination of knowledge of American history. Ways in which this objective was pursued were “preserving documents and relics, marking historic spots, recording family histories and traditions, and urging Congress to compile and publish authentic records of men in civil, military and naval service.” The National Society is still active. The Connecticut Society of United States Daughters of 1812 was organized March 2, 1906. The Connecticut branch participated actively in the national society, becoming particularly prominent when a Hartford woman, Mrs. Clarence F. R. Jenne, became the national president in 1918. The records contain newsletters, proceedings, scrapbooks, histories, reports, and publications.