SAR GENEALOGICAL POLICY

Applications Based on Old SAR, DAR,
or CAR Approved Applications

Ruling of the Genealogist General
Effective November 9, 2004

GR041109

When descendants of present or former NSSAR members apply for membership based on the same lineage, and dates and/or places on the earlier SAR application(s) are missing, the applicant is requested to supply as many of such dates and places as possible and submit a copy of the sources used to complete the information. The current standards of acceptability of documentation may be relaxed. The application will not be rejected, but may be delayed until a reasonable effort has been made to update the genealogical information.

NOTE: A copy of this policy statement must accompany each application for membership based upon a non verified SAR, DAR or CAR application for membership, when the new application is returned by the NSSAR membership department for the submission of additional proof.

"Reasonable effort," means that the Applicant (or the person assisting him) is supposed to write to three different places in search of the documentation, or make a census search, but if the response back from those places state that no documentation could be found, or if the family cannot be located in the census, and no other proof is available, then the effort to update the application has been met, and the older application referenced will be accepted as submitted. The applicant must write a letter to the NSSAR membership department explaining his efforts, and attaching copies of the responses thereto.

When applications for new membership are based on older NSDAR, NSCAR applications with missing dates and/or places, the applicant is required to complete the missing information and provide documentation of the additions. Current standards of documentation may be relaxed at the discretion of the Genealogist General. Applications are subject to rejection if not completed within one year of date of the application, unless good cause is shown to the Genealogist General.

Please note the following:
-- 1. When non-verified applications are submitted that use an approved SAR application as the basis, the Applicant is requested to supply additional documentation.
-- 2. When non-verified applications are submitted that use either an NSDAR or NSCAR (or both) Record Copy applications as the basis of proof, the Applicant is required to supply additional documentation.
-- 3. Undocumented family histories; city, county, and state histories (written or on the internet); pre 1850 census reports; and other secondary or less desirable sources may be used to supplement old SAR, DAR or CAR applications.

Fraternally, Edward F. Butler, Sr. NSSAR Genealogist General