Who We Are

Who We Are

The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America is an organization of women who actively promote our national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service, and educational projects. Founded in 1891, the Society is an unincorporated association of 43 Corporate Societies in 42 states and the District of Columbia with over 14,000 members. By promoting respect for the people, places and events that led to the formation and development of our country, we hope to encourage the patriotism of our fellow citizens, fostering awareness and understanding. We attempt to achieve this by creating widespread interest in the stories of our colonial origins and by inviting all people to honor the wisdom and valor of those whose sacrifices and achievements gave birth to our great nation. 

What is the Membership Process?

The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Tennessee membership is by invitation only and is managed at the state level. It is based on lineage and dedication to the Society’s mission. Our members are direct descendants of an ancestor who lived in an American colony and who rendered service to the colonies before July 5, 1776. An applicant first needs to identify an appropriate ancestor who gave significant service to the colony on or before July 4, 1776. A good place to identify a potential ancestor is to look on the Register of Ancestors on the NSCDA website.  Resources relating to an ancestor may be found by clicking on the name of the ancestor in the index.

Once a colonial ancestor has been identified, an application to become a candidate must be voted on by the Board of Managers. This requires the support of two current members – a proposer and endorser. After being invited to become a candidate, one may choose to pursue the documentation process on one’s own or hire a genealogist to help the candidate acquire the proper documents to prove blood relationship, i.e. birth certificates, marriage license, etc. Upon completion of her lineage papers, signed by the registrar, a formal invitation is mailed to the candidate.