(Originally Published Friday, January 13, 2012 – Blogger: One Daughter’s Point of View)
The Forgotten Patriots Project has been an initiative of the NSDAR since the mid-1980s. Essentially, the project sought to identify African American, Native Americans, and others who were not your traditional white revolutionary patriot. Once identified by name, they and their efforts were published in a series of booklets, and later merged into one volume with additional expanded research. The subsequent book was titled “African American and American Indian Patriots of the Revolutionary War” and was published in 2001.
This project helped to expand the list of patriots who supported the war for independence, contributing to the cause either with material support or by risking their own lives in battle or by pledge to the new nation. The project also helped to expand the diversity of our membership, since membership in the NSDAR is defined by linage to a patriot regardless of race, nationality, or creed.
Researchers at NSDAR continued to build on the material in the 2001 publication and eventually NSDAR decided to publish a second book. In 2008, the second book was published and expanded on the original 200 page volume, presenting new findings in a 874-page book. The new book was entitled “Forgotten Patriots: African American and American Indian Patriots in the Revolutionary War.”
Like the events following the first publication, new findings have been complied again requiring a supplement to the 874-page book. NSDAR recently announced that this supplement along with the 2008 publication would be made available online – – and (drum role please) FREE of charge!
And…since we all know the information is still incomplete, there are plans to continue with the research and publish additional supplements online as well.
To access the PDF for “Forgotten Patriots – African American and American Indian Patriots of the Revolutionary War: A Guide to Service, Sources, and Studies” which lists over 6,600 names of African American and Native American patriots in its 874 pages or the recently published supplement, visit http://www.dar.org/library/fp.cfm#book.
What a great way to recognize the diversity of our patriots and the diversity of our county then and today.
A Robynn’s Chirps 