Cornelia Wendell Bush

12/06/2025

Help make DAR’s genealogical library easier to search and explore.

12/06/2025

Today is St. Nicholas Day! When the first Dutch settlers came to New Netherland, they brought with them St. Nicholas and their favorite holiday, Sinterklaas.

On December 5th, St. Nicholas Day Eve, children would leave out their shoes next to the chimney along with a carrot or hay for Sinterklaas's horse. They’d sing songs before going to bed, and if they were good children, they would wake the following day to find a small gift in their shoes.

St. Nicholas became the patron saint of New Amsterdam and they even dedicated their first church on the island of Manhattan to him. The stone Church of St. Nicholas was built in 1642. Near what is now the Battery, it was built inside Fort Amsterdam for protection from attack. They also named St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem after him.

Over the next few generations, Sinterklaas found his way into American literature. In 1809, writer Washington Irving created a jolly Sinterklaas for his popular Knickerbocker Tales. Then in 1822, an Episcopal priest named Clement Moore wrote “A Visit from St. Nicholas” which featured a jolly old elf, his descent down a chimney on Christmas Eve, and a sleigh drawn by eight tiny reindeer. The Father Christmas image stuck, but he acquired a new name—Santa Claus—a direct derivation from the Dutch ‘Sinterklaas’.

🎨 The Feast of St. Nicholas, Richard Brakenburg, 1685

12/03/2025

Military records at NARA - the National Archives.

Woohoo! We are wading into the W's! We've started digitizing the "W" names on the War of 1812 Pension Files. Watch for new pension files in our War of 1812 Pension File collection: https://f3.social/6ybm

12/02/2025

Join us for our next Live From New Amsterdam on Thursday, December 11 at noon. Russell Shorto will speak to Dr. David Voorhees about Jacob Leisler and his 1689 rebellion. For more information and to register, visit https://www.nyhistory.org/programs/live-from-new-amsterdam-jacob-leislers-new-york?date=2025-12-11.

Image: Statue of Jacob Leisler in New Rochelle, NY, Erected 1913.

12/02/2025

Applications are now open for the 2026 Educator Institutes at the National Constitution Center!

Spend America's 250th anniversary with educators from across the country and participate in an engaging professional learning experience that blends content, pedagogy, and community. Collaborate in a trusted, nonpartisan space to deepen your knowledge of the Constitution while exploring innovative strategies for teaching civics and history.

This summer, we are excited to offer educators four incredible opportunities to engage with us:

📜 June 14-19, 2026 – The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
🦅June 21-26, 2026 – Principles of America at 250
📚 July 12-17, 2026 – Intellectual Inspirations of the Constitution
👩‍⚖️ July 20-24, 2026 – Landmark Supreme Court Cases

📅Apply now: https://ow.ly/Us4g50XAhMq

12/02/2025

12/01/2025

11/29/2025

by sacrifice and service.

🙌 The Virginia SAR proudly celebrates these “Real Sons of the American Revolution” — Franklin Pierce, Zachary Taylor, and Martin Van Buren — whose fathers fought for freedom and whose sons carried that spirit into the presidency.

11/28/2025

Haudenosaunee Confederacy

Haudenosaunee deed detailing land about 60 miles inland from Lake Oswego, extending along lakes and rivers to Niagara Falls through Seneca, Cayuga, and Onondaga territories. Features unique signatures from members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. https://ow.ly/oOqC50XiCVt

11/26/2025

The holidays are full of delight at George Washington’s estate! Just a short drive from Alexandria, VA & 16 miles south of Washington DC.

11/26/2025

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over 5,200 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea, and abroad. Help us by sponsoring Veterans....