The Sons of the Revolution was organized in New York on December 18, 1875, primarily by leading members of the Society of the Cincinnati (founded by George Washington and Henry Knox) in order to broaden participation in preserving the American Heritage. The Sons opened its membership to all sons of enlisted men, as well as officers and all descendants of other qualifying patriots, who risked their lives during the Revolution.
The General Society Sons of the Revolution was formed by the New York, Pennsylvania and District of Columbia Societies at a meeting on April 19, 1890, in Washington, DC, following conferences held in 1888 to devise an organizational structure that would provide a satisfactory continuation of local autonomy and national unity to the several State Societies.
The North Carolina Society was chartered in Raleigh, NC, on November 21, 1893.
Its purposes:
To preserve for succeeding generations the freedom and democratic government for which our forefathers fought.
To develop awareness of and interest in the beginnings of our nation.
To recall the sacrifices that accompanied its birth.
To underscore the wisdom which devised the system of checks and balances that provides opportunity and freedom for all.
Object of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution
It being evident, from the steady decline of a proper celebration of the National Holidays of the United States of America, that popular concern in the events and men of the War of the Revolution is gradually declining, and that such lack of interest is attributable, not so much to the lapse of time and the rapid increase of immigration from foreign countries, as to the neglect, on the part of descendants of Revolutionary heroes, to perform their duty in keeping before the public mind the memory of the services of their ancestors and of the times in which they lived; therefore, the Society of Sons of the Revolution has been instituted to perpetuate the memory of the men who, in the military, naval and civil service of the colonies and of the Continental Congress, by their acts or counsel, achieved the Independence of the country, and to the proper celebration of the anniversaries of the birthday of Washington, and of prominent events connected with the War of the Revolution; to collect and secure for preservation the rolls, records and other documents relating to that period; to inspire the members of the Society with the patriotic spirit of their forefathers; and to promote the feeling of friendship among them.
The Society of the Sons of the Revolution has been instituted to perpetuate the memory of the men who, in the military, naval and civil service of the colonies and of the Continental Congress, by their acts or counsel, achieved the Independence of the country, and to the proper celebration of the anniversaries of the birthday of Washington, and of prominent events connected with the War of the Revolution; to collect and secure for preservation the rolls, records and other documents relating to that period; to inspire the members of the Society with the patriotic spirit of their forefathers; and to promote the feeling of friendship among them.
