
FOUNDING FEMALES




How does one become a member of the NSCDA/PA?
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Members are descended from more than 10,000 men and women who served the American colonies prior to July 5, 1776.
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Adding More Qualifying Ancestors
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Why should the NSCDA/PA “rethink” Colonial Service? At its basic core, each Colonial Society of the NSCDA has a set of eligibility characteristics they believe make an ancestor “worthy” to be included on our National Register. These characteristics are based on our understanding of British American Colonial history. And until quite recently, these characteristics have been represented by a list of “men who worked there.” The NSCDA/PA started to dig a bit deeper into what we thought we understood about Colonial Service. Not to change facts. But to excavate unknown stories. To move forward, however, it is useful to look back, especially to think about the prevailing thoughts and beliefs which helped to form the original parameters of our qualifying NSCDA ancestors. The founding Dames—in 1891—determined positions of importance classified as “service to the colonies” such as Historic Founders, Provincial Officers, Judiciary, and Committee Members as the basis for our Register of Ancestors. These services had to be rendered to the colony before July 5, 1776.
But what has changed in the intervening century since our Founders made these decisions? What do we understand about colonial life today that the founding Dames did not? The board of the NSCDA/PA has worked to expand the PA eligibility list with a focus towards greater inclusion of non-traditional ancestors, especially women. We have taught ourselves about the English law that kept women’s contributions hidden from view, along with learning the most current scholarship which helps us reevaluate what we thought we knew. Admittedly, identifying non-traditional ROA candidates and locating proper proof-of-service documentation is a different process from the “men who worked there.” Yet, it’s extremely rewarding to discover how incredibly interesting our history is when we present a much fuller narrative.
Many of us have come to embrace the belief that “service” isn’t something cut in stone, but rather it’s a living, breathing thing that should be updated as we discover more about our history.