USD 1812 celebrates quasquicentennial
The Arkansas State Society United States Daughters of 1812 celebrated the 125th anniversary of the founding of the National Society. Members from Texas and all over Arkansas attended, as well as distinguished guests.
Founded in 1892 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., USD 1812 is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s service organization for descendants of patriots who aided the American cause during the War of 1812.
On Jan. 4, 1928, USD 1812 purchased a three-story brick, Queen Anne style house at
1461 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington D.C., to serve as the permanent headquarters of the national society. In
1992, the society purchased the late-Victorian house immediately next door to serve as a War of 1812 museum and library. It is the only library collection in Washington that focuses on the period from the end of the American Revolution through the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent in 1815. Indeed, it may be the only such collection in existence.
The collection includes the Archives of Pennsylvania, the Archives of Maryland, and similar official publications of those states most involved with this period. Rosters of militia for most of the 18 states in the Union during this time period are in the library collection. There are more than 5,000 titles in the collection representing some 6,000 volumes.
In addition to preserving the history of the War o 1812 era, USD 1812 promotes patriotism by supporting the military service men and women, supporting veterans and teaching youths.
Membership is available to women age 18 and over who can offer satisfactory proof that they are lineal descendants of an ancestor who, during the period of 1784-1815 inclusive, rendered civil, military or naval service to this country, rendered material aid to the U.S. Army or Navy, or who participated in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. For information, call Mary Ellen Laursen at 922-4802.