State of Franklin Chapter
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

Jonesborough, Washington County, Tennessee

Welcome to the State of Franklin Chapter, NSDAR website!  We are excited that you are interested in learning more about our organization.

Membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) honors your Patriot ancestor and preserves your Patriot's legacy.  As a member of DAR and through your participation in the Society's programs and activities, you too can continue the legacy of those who dreamed of the country we all celebrate today.  I invite you to visit the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution website for information on becoming a member.

You are welcome to visit our chapter.  Our members come from Washington, Sullivan, Hawkins, Greene, and Carter Counties.  Please email us and let us know of your interest.

Reasons for Joining DAR

Incorporated by an Act of Congress in 1896, the NSDAR is a non-profit, non-political, volunteer service organization with nearly 180,000 women in some 3,000 chapters across the United States and in nine foreign countries. The Society was founded in Washington, DC, on October 11, 1890, and has celebrated almost 120 years of service to the nation.

• Are you interested in genealogy?
• Do you have a love for education, for patriotism, or for historical preservation?
• Does American History fascinate you?
• Do you like to volunteer?
• Do you want to be involved with service organizations and the community?
• Do you enjoy programs and speakers?
• Do you love to socialize and meet new people?

If you answered "yes" to some of the questions listed above, we invite you to pursue membership in the DAR.  For more information on membership, please visit the NSDAR membership requirements web page.

Chapter History

The State of Franklin Chapter was organized on March 4, 1929, by Cora Kennedy Whitlock who had been a member of the John Sevier Chapter in Johnson City.  There were twenty-three charter members, all of whom were descendants of the pioneers who led in the development of the East Tennessee area;  Darling Jones, Jacob Brown, LeRoy Taylor, Andrew Taylor, and John Sevier.

Chapter Name - Its History & Significance

The chapter selected “State of Franklin” as its name to honor the pioneers who attempted to establish a separate state, independent from North Carolina, and who met at a convention on December 17, 1784, in Jonesborough, which was to become the county seat of Washington County in 1796, and holds the distinction of being the first town in Tennessee.  Many events which contributed to our State’s origin occurred in Jonesborough, and the area holds such points of historical interest as the Tipton-Haynes Farm, Chester Inn, Sisters Row, the DeVault Tavern, the Christopher Taylor Home, the site of the publication of the first abolitionist newspaper, and Washington College, founded by Samuel Doak.

Historical Marker
Jonesborough

About the Chapter 

The chapter has established the Chester Inn Marker, the Jacob Brown Marker, the Boone Trail Marker, and the Davey Crockett Birthplace Marker.  It participated in the dedication of the John Sevier Marker, the Jonesborough sesquicentennial in 1930, and the 1976 bicentennial celebrations.  It was active in the bicentennial of the State of Franklin (1784-1984) and presented a commemorative plaque to the town of Jonesborough.  The chapter has given continued support to the Jonesborough library and visitors’ center.  Over the years, the State of Franklin Chapter’s identification and preservation of historic sites in Jonesborough encouraged historic awareness in the area and led to the establishment of Jonesborough as the first historical district of Tennessee in 1970.

Clock tower
Washington County Courthouse
Jonesborough
Erected 1913

Patriot Listing

Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.

Site by Jeanne Preston, Sarah Polk Chapter

Last Updated 04/24/2010

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