The SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was incorporated on January 17, 1890 in Connecticut and later chartered by the United States Congress on June 9, 1906. Prior to this date a number of state societies were formed in the 1890's. These were led by the Sons of Revolutionary Sires, organized July 4, 1876 in San Francisco. The first Congress of the National Society was held in Louisville, Kentucky on April 30, 1889 which was the 100th anniversary of George Washington's taking of the oath of office of President of the United States.

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution was organized on April 30, 1889, to " perpetuate the memory of those who, by their services or sacrifices during the war of the American Revolution, achieved the independence of the American People. "

We decorate the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers and patriots. We support excellence in teaching of American history. We participate in patriotic observances. We support research and preservation of historic material relating to the men and women who fought or gave service for Independence in the American Revolutionary War.

Any man shall be eligible for membership in this Society who: being of the age of eighteen years or over and a citizen of good repute in the community, is the lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to and rendered active service in, the cause of American independence, either as an: officer, soldier, seaman, marine, militiaman or Minuteman, in the armed forces of the Continental Congress, or of any one of the several Colonies or States; or as a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, or as a member of a Committee of Safety or Correspondence; or as a member of any Continental, Provincial, or Colonial Congress or Legislature; or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain.

The applicant must also be personally acceptable to the Society. Family tradition in regard to the services of an ancestor will not be considered. No preliminary decision will be given on a line of descent, service or evidentiary value of proposed evidence. (When examined with all available evidence, such preliminary decision might prove to be incorrect and the National Society cannot accept responsibility for such a decision.)