NSCDA Mission Statement

Women opening doors to America’s history through preservation, education and service to inspire a shared love of country.

How to join

Membership is by invitation and is based on lineage.  Our members are direct descendants of an ancestor who lived in an American colony and who rendered qualified, recognized service to the Colonies before July 5, 1776.

Your ancestor must have rendered service to our country during the Colonial period, either in the founding of a State or Commonwealth, or an institution which has survived and developed into importance, or who held an important position in a Colonial government, or who by distinguished services contributed to the founding of our nation.

Ancestor Bibliography Register Ancestor Biographies

  • Eligible Ancestry

    The first step is to identify an ancestor listed in the NSCDA’s Register of Ancestors (ROA).  Each Colonial state determines what meets the requirements for qualified, recognized service for ancestors included in the ROA.  The above links do not include all of the ancestors in the ROA.  If you find that your ancestor is not listed, please send us your ancestor’s name and we will verify whether he/she is a qualified ancestor.

  • Meet the Illinois Society

    We are an organization that welcomes new members by invitation. All candidates for membership in the NSCDA are required to be proposed by at least two members in good standing who know them well. If you know a Dame, please contact her to express your interest in membership.

    Once a woman becomes a candidate, she is responsible for all fees involved with proving her lineage, ancestral state fees, and finally, annual dues to the organization. 

     

  • Invitation to Become a Candidate

    A prospective member is proposed by one member and seconded by another member of the Society.  Generally, the prospective member must be well known to the proposer and the seconder.  A proposal to become a member is voted on by the Board and an invitation to become a Candidate may be extended.  A Candidate Fee applies.

  • Complete Required Lineage Papers

    It is the Candidate’s responsibility to provide proper documentation to prove direct descent, i.e., birth certificates, marriage licenses and death records, or other corroborating proofs that will demonstrate the direct link to the qualified, recognized ancestor.

    A member of the Candidates’ Helper Committee will contact the candidate to create a Line of Ascent listing each generation from the candidate to her qualifying ancestor which will then be submitted to the Colonial Society.  The candidates’ helper will then assist the candidate with research and preparation of lineage papers to be submitted to the Colonial Society within one year of becoming a candidate.

  • Verification by NSCDA Genealogist

    After completing required lineage papers, a genealogist and a registrar of the appropriate Colonial state society will review the papers.

  • Invitation to Join NSCDA-IL

    Upon their approval, one receives a formal invitation to join the NSCDA-IL. Annual Dues are payable upon receipt of membership notification.

WHERE DO I GET MORE INFORMATION OR HELP WITH MY APPLICATION?

Please contact us for more information if you are interested. If you are related to a Dame in the NSCDA, please provide her name and Society of membership.

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