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The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR), founded in 1890, and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. Any woman is eligible for membership who is no less than eighteen years of age and can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence. To learn more about how to become a member of the NSDAR, please visit here to learn more about membership.

About Our Chapter
In December 1926, the Peter Horry Chapter, NSDAR, became the sixty-third South Carolina chapter of the NSDAR. Led by Mary Holliday as the first regent, other officers were Nan Mellette McMillan, vice regent; Mary Dusenbury Platt, registrar; Winnie Holliday Coles, recording secretary; Nell Duncan Freeman, treasurer; and Decie Irene Earle Busbee, historian. Other charter members included Edna Spivey Scoggin, Fannie Dusenbury Lemmon, Iola Buck Burroughs, Rosa Margaret Dusenbury, Janie Collins Cooper, Nettie Maude Holiday Adams, Fannie Johnson Hawes, Lena Johnson Scurry, Jessamine Buck Richardson, and Bessie Rollinson Stalvey.

Brigadier General Peter Horry, for whom both Horry (pronounced O-ree) County and the chapter are named, was a greatly admired Revolutionary War officer. He was born in South Carolina about 1747. A lieutenant colonel during the Revolution and later brigadier general in the South Carolina Militia, Horry also represented Prince George, Winyah, and All Saints parishes in the South Carolina House and Senate. In 1801, Kingston County was renamed Horry District in his honor. He died in 1815, and is buried at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1977, the chapter presented the Horry County Courthouse with a portrait of Peter Horry, draped with the flags under which he served. 

An early tradition of the chapter was a colonial tea held in February to honor George Washington. Members wore colonial costumes. 

Some early chapter contributions to the community were purchasing tuberculosis bonds, assisting with the nutrition camp in Myrtle Beach, contributing to the tonsil clinics at Conway Hospital, and co-sponsoring the Franklin Roosevelt Birthday Ball.

Chapter members expressed patriotism during World War II by working in the Red Cross bandage room, purchasing government bonds, donating to the blood plasma fund, visiting servicemen in the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Hospital, and making "Buddy Bags" to send overseas.

Support for Tamassee DAR School has included purchasing an acre of land, regular monetary contributions, collecting items for the rummage sale, and chapter members visiting with female students at the beach.

The chapter has helped preserve historical sites including the grave of General Francis Marion; the grave of Lieutenant Richard Green, Revolutionary War ancestor of several members; and the grave of William Gore, patriot leader and ancestor of several chapter members. Along with two other historical societies, the Peter Horry Chapter, NSDAR, under the leadership of Mrs. Dorethea Martin Long, participated in placing a granite marker in a public park honoring historical societies. The chapter also participated in placing a granite marker in a public park honoring Nicolas Frink, a planter and landowner, whose son, Jadesh, was a Revolutionary War Patriot.

The chapter honors the service of each regent by adding her name and dates of service to a plaque that hangs in the Horry County Courthouse. Evelyn Jones Majors and Dorethea Martin Long presented the plaque to the chapter in 1992 with the names of the first twenty-six regents.

Remembering those who have served in the military has been a goal in recent years. Mac Goldfinch spoke to the chapter in November 1994, about his experience in the Battle of the Bulge. In 1996, Margaret Goldfinch described her experiences as a nurse serving in World War II. In November 1997, the chapter honored the Horry County women who had served in any branch of the military in World War I and World War II with a special program of recognition and tribute. Dorethea Martin Long did the research for this project. LaVerne Creel gave leadership in 1998, by initiating an annual Veterans Day ceremony with the cooperation of Hillcrest Cemetery and other patriotic organizations. In 1999, the chapter mailed over 1,000 cards as part of the "Thank the Troops" project.

This brief chapter history is adapted from a history compiled by Belle Miller Spivey Hood.

We are located in Conway, South Carolina, and would love to talk to you about becoming a member of the NSDAR. If you would like more information about the DAR, including membership requirements, please e-mail our chapter contact person:

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