Abstract
The Southern Nevada Daughters of the American Revolution Records primarily document the activities of three Southern Nevada chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution from 1950 to 2019. The materials center around the records of three chapters from Southern Nevada: Old Spanish Trail, Francisco Garces, and Valley of Fire. Materials include administrative records, scrapbooks, photographs, news clippings, and correspondence about the activities of the Daughters of the American Revolution chapters. Mateirals also include some records and scrapbooks from the Nevada State Society of DAR.
Finding Aid PDF
Date
Extent
Related People/Corporations
Scope and Contents Note
The Southern Nevada Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Records primarily document the activities of three Southern Nevada chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution from 1950 to 2019. The materials center around the records of three chapters from Southern Nevada: Old Spanish Trail, Francisco Garces, and Valley of Fire. Materials include administrative records, scrapbooks, photographs, news clippings, correspondence about the activities of the Daughters of the American Revolution chapters. The collection also includes files from regents Marvyl McQuatters and Barbara Hunter as well as conference proceedings and programs, meeting minutes, committee assignments, directories, educational initiatives, and financial documents. Materials also include some records and scrapbooks from the Nevada State Society of DAR.
Access Note
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged into four series:
Series I. Old Spanish Trail Chapter, 1965-2019;
Series II. Francisco Garces Chapter, 1950-1982;
Series III. Nevada State Society, 1952-1985;
Series IV. Valley of Fire Chapter, 1957-1986.
Biographical / Historical Note
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was founded in 1890 as an organization for women to express their patriotism. When the Sons of the American Revolution voted to exclude women, Mary Smith Lockwood, the widow of a Union soldier, hosted a meeting to form a parallel national women's organization. The DAR has three primary objectives: preservation of the historical roots of the United States; education about the institutions and history of the United States; and to foster patriotism and love of country. Any woman who can prove direct lineage to an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is eligible for membership.
The Nevada State Society (NSS) consists of the twelve DAR chapters located around Nevada. The committees organize activities throughout the state and the NSS places and maintains historical markers. The NSS also oversees the Children of the American Revolution organization.
The Francisco Garces Chapter was founded in 1950 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The chapter was named to honor the first known white man, a Franciscan monk from Spain, to enter what is now the state of Nevada.
The Valley of Fire Chapter was founded in 1957 in Las Vegas by Knute A. Johansen. The organizing members named the chapter after the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada's oldest and largest state park.
The Old Spanish Trail Chapter of the DAR was founded in Paradise, Nevada, in 1966, but disbanded in 1971. The chapter was reorganized and chartered in 1994 in Henderson, Nevada. The chapter is a registered volunteer with the United States Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management, and it services and maintains historical kiosks marking the Old Spanish Trail near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Source:
"DAR History." National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Accessed July 17, 2014. http://www.dar.org/national-society/about-dar/dar-history/founding-dar
Preferred Citation
Southern Nevada Daughters of the American Revolution Records, 1950-2019. MS-00292. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Permalink
Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 1987 by Mabel Guthrie Lee, in 2008 by Jamie Cornelle, in 2013 by the Old Spanish Trail Chapter, and in 2020 by Mel Benedit; accession numbers 1987-126, 2008-029, 2013-027, and 2020-083.
Processing Note
Materials were moderately processed by Special Collections staff in 1987 and 2008; additional materials were moderately processed by Tom Sommer in 2013. In 2014, as part of a legacy finding aid conversion project, Lindsay Oden revised and enhanced the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards. In 2017 Joyce Moore added an additional box and updated ArchivesSpace. In 2020, as part of an archival backlog elimination project, Melise Leech added additional materials and revised the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards. In 2021, Tammi Kim minimally processed the 2020 addition and updated the finding aid in ArchivesSpace.