So according to my aunt who traces the genealogy in the family, I know I would be eligible for DAR, Mayflower Society, and Daughters of Norway. But I have always wondered, how does one go about proving this or certifying the paperwork?

In my experience Daughters of Norway is usually on the honor system, but it depends on the Lodge. The form for my Lodge asks the name of the relative but since my mother and sister are already members it wasn't an issue for me. Sons of Norway doesn't require any Scandinavian heritage to join.

Daughters of Norway honors adoption and step relatives, which I think is awesome.

Plenty of trips to the register of deeds office to get birth, death, and marriage records - or land or probate records if not that fortunate. Also trips to the library or genealogical society to see if there are any well researched and referenced books on the people. Census records and gravestones are also fun additions to prove names, dates, and relationships.

Sweden vs. Norway
 

I did not realize that my daughters Victoria and Madeleine had the same names as the princesses of Sweden. I was so embarassed - my Norwegian family would be SHOCKED! :rolleyes:

AND - Daughters of Norway isn't just for Norwegians - Swedes, Danes, Finns, and Icelanders are welcome too! They want you even if you just married into the Scandahovians! I'm an associate member because there is no lodge in Tennessee.

Just FYI, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians - http://www.ladiesaoh.com

Ta Da! A possible new group in the works.

Now I'm wishing I were Irish so I could be a Daughter of the Potato Famine. :p *tear*

Scotland the Brave
 

Don't forget that if you are Scottish, odds are you have a clan to which you can claim membership - many of them have American branches that do lots of Scottish type things. Eating haggis and drinking Irn Bru is entirely optional. www.cosca.net
Me? I'm Clan Fraser!http://www.fraserclan-cal.net/clanmotto.gif

In Clan McLeod, we'd say that eating haggis -- that "great chieftain o' the puddin-race" -- is a privilege!

As for Irn-Bru, I still prefer Scotland's first national drink. ;)

But Irn Bru is made with GIRDERS!!!
(and yet, it tastes like liquid baby asprin)


I'll take a glass of Blair Atholl, please!

Beryana has it pretty well. I used to be Chapter Registrar for my old DAR chapter, and have a lot of the information at hand.

If your aunt is already in the DAR, Mayflower Society, and/or the Daughters of Norway, you usually only need to prove your relationship to them. Since your grandparents are her parents, you'll just have to show that your parent is his/her sister, and proof that you exist. When you get a certified copy of your birth certificate, be sure to say that it's for genealogical purposes, so that it will show your parents!

Otherwise, I'd start with printing out a worksheet - you can print it out at DAR forms. Scroll down to the middle of the page for Membership & Genealogy and print out the four forms (I'd print out several of the actual worksheet - you'll probably need them!). It will show you which proofs you'll need - usually one Primary source (ie: birth certificate, marriage license, court records) or a preponderance of Secondary evidence (census, death certificate,

One thing that the site doesn't tell you is to make copies of EVERYTHING, and never send in originals! I also put each of my lineages in a separate loose leaf notebook - just in case you need to find the proofs for something else.

If you have any questions, PM me. I'll try to help the best I can.

McLeod? I had a professor named MacLeod, and on the first day of class, he wrote his name on the board, and said, "The first person who can say my name correctly gets their grade raised one letter." Everyone guessed, but I came up with the correct way. :D

This is my clan crest: http://www.scotclans.com/img/scottis...crest_grey.gif

I am ready.

I'm part of Clan Donald. My brother-in-law's family is also very scottish. At my sister's rehersal dinner, they gave out favors of little bottles of my brother-in-law's clan's whisky with clan Donald whisky tied together with a ribbon in the wedding colors.

My dad is a geneologist by hobby and has helped my aunt get into a few of these orgs, so maybe when my kids are a little older I will look into it more.

What I have actually done is just make copies of the original, certified certificates (oxymoron?!) and keep only the copies in the house. I have all my originals in labeled envelopes in my safe deposit box (with transcripts, membership pins, passports, etc). That way I don't run as much of a risk of losing the originals and know I can mark up what I have in the house, etc. Vital records can get REALLY expensive fast - and some states recently jacked up their prices (WI jumped from $7 for marriage and death to $20!). Some states will also offer the option of a document stamped "not for identification" which has all the same data just is not 'certified'. Lineage societies will also accept these kinds of copies (but you will want to double check that with the actual society - I know all the groups I have joined accepted them).

I'm willing to help as well. :)