THE FAMOUS LETTER TO THE WASHINGTON POST
When the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) decided during the first National Congress on 20 April 1890 to exclude women from membership, many were indignant at such discrimination. The Washington Post printed that statement the day after the Washington, D.C. branch of the SAR met (for the first time) on 11 July 1890. Mary Smith Lockwood, a writer, read the newspaper account of this meeting with "interest and criticism." Angered at the Sons' attitude towards women, she immediately wrote a letter of protest, which was published in the same newspaper on 13 July 1890:
"Recently the first regular meeting of the Washington Branch of the newly organized Society, 'Sons of the Revolution', was held in this city. Prof. G. Brown Goods explained the object of the meeting, 'that it was purely historical in its purpose, and was to perpetuate the memory of the men who achieved American independence.' The South and North joined hands on a common platform, and good speeches were from all sections. So far we say amen.
"Senator Sherman was the presiding officer. There were sixty persons present, and twenty of these were women. In the opening remarks the Senator said 'he approved of any movement that would perpetuate the memory of the heroes of the Revolutionary war, and hailed with pleasure the organization composed of men and women of the descendants of the Revolutionary sires. The women might not have done any of the fighting, but they took an equally important part in looking after the homes, that the men might absent themselves in their country's cause.'
"If this is the case why do men and women band themselves to commemorate a one-sided heroism? If these were true, patriotic women, why is not the patriotism of the country broad and just enough to take women in, too? It is a noble act for the descendants of the Revolutionary sires. But were there no mothers of the Revolution?... "This is an opportune time to bring forward some of the women of '76 lest the sires become puffed up by vain glory..."
Mary S. Lockwood, Washington, July 12, 1890
Her letter brought immediate response and within three months, the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized. Now known as the "Pen Founder," Mrs. Lockwood once explained, "I took up my pen to awaken the patriotism of the women of this country."
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