A visit to a historic site is so much more than learning important dates or seeing artifacts: it’s all about exploring the stories of those who lived in the past, many of whom might be our own ancestors.
For Jan Mauch and other members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), joining the group helped them learn the stories of their own heritage and carry on the inspiring legacies they found in their research.
“The service and history aspects got me into it. When I met the women, though, I realized there was so much that we shared,” says Jan Mauch, Regent of West Chester’s Hopewell Chapter of the DAR. She joined in 2009 at another chapter and then was instrumental in the 2019 founding of the Hopewell chapter.
Joining the DAR requires extensive research, since every member must be a direct descendant of someone who contributed to the American Revolution in some way. It doesn’t have to be a soldier or founding father specifically, but the rules are specific and DAR genealogists actively help prospective members find the needed documentation for this process.
Once members are officially brought into the organization, they gather monthly to discuss projects as well as hear interesting speakers on a variety of topics. Many of the women then join committees to participate in various acts of service, like writing letters to veterans, collecting donations for the Dove House, USO, Veterans Hospital and Boys and Girls Club, assembling packets for naturalized citizens and more.
“We do a lot of personal and quiet efforts, where the ladies just do projects on their own,” says Jan. “Many of them don’t want to record their service hours because they aren’t in it for recognition.”
The ladies of the DAR focus their efforts on three broad categories: education, historic preservation and patriotism.
Projects in their first three years include providing copies of the Constitution to local children, placing commemorative wreaths on the graves of local veterans and volunteering as docents at the historic Waldschmidt Homestead.
“The history part of the DAR is so fascinating. The state DAR owns the Waldschmidt Homestead, and I’m a docent there and a trustee,” says Jan. “People come in for a tour and they end up sharing things they know, so we learn from the people who come in.”
One of Jan’s fondest memories is when the chapter hosted a booth at the West Chester Pumpkin Fest. A Constitution Trivia game created by members drew families in and helped them have conversations about history and patriotism. Children were also invited to write encouraging messages through Operation Gratitude, an effort that sends letters and care packages to members of the military. Over 300 people participated in the booth.
The Hopewell DAR members are excited for the future and all the ways they hope to serve the West Chester community.
“We've learned a lot already, and we're hoping to continue the things we have begun and then do more with literacy,” says Jan. “We'd also like to increase the amount of student awards we give."
If you have an interest in history and service, the DAR might be a fit for you—a wide variety of women join the Hopewell chapter, and the leadership of the organization loves to help people figure out if they are a good fit for membership.
To visit a meeting and explore possible membership in the Hopewell DAR, visit HopewellDAR.org and email Jan at regent@hopewelldar.org to learn more.