OBJECT
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 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 further 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.
FOUNDING
The Society of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California was founded on May 15, 1893 in Los Angeles, California. Today, it is one of the largest State Societies in the Nation. Membership is open to qualified male descendants of an individual who, as a military, naval or marine officer, sailor or marine, saw active service in that capacity under the authority of any of the thirteen (13) Colonies or States, or of the Continental Congress, and remained always loyal to such authority, or to a male descendant of an individual who signed the Declaration of Independence, or of an individual who, as a member of the Continental Congress or of the Congress of any of the thirteen (13) Colonies or States, or as an Official appointed by or under the authority of any such legislative bodies, actually assisted in the establishment of American Independence by services rendered during the War of the Revolution, becoming thereby liable to conviction or treason against the Government of Great Britain, but remained always loyal to the authority of the Colonies or States. To qualify for membership, such service must have been performed between April 19, 1775 and April 19, 1783.Junior Members are those individuals of good moral character who would otherwise qualify as Annual Members, but who have not yet attained the age of eighteen (18) years.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Society is to venerate those who served in the Revolutionary war, to keep alive the traditions engendered during and as a result of that conflict, to maintain the patriotic traditions of the United States of America, and to keep ever fresh the memory of individuals who served in that war through genealogical research into the heritage of those eligible for membership in the SR.To facilitate the above, the Society maintains a genealogical research library, open to members and the public at no charge, and from time to time publishes a journal containing material relevant to its purpose, which is sent to members at no charge. Non-members may subscribe to this journal for a nominal sum as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
The Society owns and operates the Sons of the Revolution Library in Glendale, with its collection of over 25,000 volumes of rare historical and genealogical reference works, as our main patriotic project for the community. We are proud of the fact that we have been able to keep our library doors open to the public free-of-charge for over one hundred years.
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