Our National Heritage
The General Society Daughters of the Revolution of 1776 traces its origins to the patriotic movement of the late nineteenth century. The organization was founded by Mrs. Flora Adams Darling, a noted author, historian, lecturer, and leader in the women's patriotic society movement. Mrs. Darling established the society on November 11, 1891, and it was formally organized and incorporated in New York in 1891 as a national lineage society. Membership was based upon direct lineal descent from Revolutionary War soldiers, statesmen, and patriots who contributed to the cause of American independence.
Under Mrs. Darling's leadership, the society grew across the United States through a network of state societies and local chapters, bringing together women who shared a commitment to preserving Revolutionary history and honoring the sacrifices of their patriot ancestors.
Legacy of the Virginia Society
The revitalization of the Virginia Society Daughters of the Revolution 1776 marks the renewal of a proud, independent lineage tradition in the Commonwealth. When Mrs. Flora Adams Darling founded the General Society Daughters of the Revolution, the organization was built upon two foundational tenets: a requirement for strict lineal descent from Revolutionary patriots and a fierce commitment to the sovereignty and autonomy of individual state societies. Unlike other lineages of the era that favored a highly centralized national board, the Daughters of the Revolution was designed as a federation of self-governing state societies, giving local members direct control over their governance and regional historical preservation.
Virginia women were an important part of this original movement, establishing a dedicated Virginia State Society under the national General Society. The Commonwealth held a distinguished status within the organization due to Mrs. Flora Adams Darling’s deep personal affinity for Virginia history, culture, and its historic institutions.
This bond is permanently enshrined at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. Because of Mrs. Darling's close relationship with the college as a prominent benefactress, thousands of her foundational organizational records, scrapbooks, and early correspondence letters are preserved today in the Special Collections Research Center at the William & Mary Library. As the Virginia Society enters its new era of activity, it carries forward a legacy deeply rooted in the history of the Commonwealth.