Denise Doring VanBuren has history in her genes.

She can trace her family lineage to three patriots of the American Revolution, one of whom was a signer of the Articles of Association in Dutchess County in 1775, a document that required New York citizens show loyalty to the American cause.

“As such, he was committing treason against his king,” VanBuren said. “Wouldn’t I would love to have dinner with him!”

The Wappinger resident is adding another chapter to her family's history books.

She was elected in June as the 45th president general of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the first woman from Dutchess County to attain the three-year, volunteer position.

Van Buren has authored four books on history and has served multiple terms as past president of both the Dutchess County and the Beacon historical societies. She has been involved with the DAR for more than three decades.

“We currently have approximately 185,000 members around the world, and we have a strategic goal to reach 250,000 members by 2033 (the end of our 15-year plan),” said VanBuren, the mother of three adult sons who lives in a historic 1840 farmhouse in Chelsea, a hamlet in the Town of Wappinger, with her husband, Christopher Barclay. “Equally as important to attracting vibrant women to the rewards of our important service work is raising public awareness about who we are and what we do.”

The DAR National Headquarters, which encompasses an entire downtown city block, houses one of the nation's premier genealogical libraries, one of the largest collections of pre-industrial American decorative arts, Washington's largest concert hall and an extensive collection of early American manuscripts and imprints, according to www.dar.org.

And because her new position will involve a heavy travel schedule around the world, VanBuren will retire at the end of the year as vice president of public relations at Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., after more than 26 years of service.

VanBuren has long been involved with community service and currently serves on the board of directors for Boscobel, Dutchess Tourism, MidHudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center, Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Fishkill Rural Cemetery and the Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist College, among others.

VanBuren, who was the 2016 recipient of the Martha Washington Woman of History Award, took time to answer questions about the DAR and her role.

What will you be doing in your new role as the 45th president general of the Daughters of the American Revolution?

Officially, I am the volunteer chief executive officer of our National Society. Unofficially, I consider myself the chief ambassador for the DAR experience! We have a staff of professionals that manages our day-to-day operations in Washington, D.C., including a full-time administrator. I chair our society’s 12-member executive committee, which is responsible for guidance and strategy for our service organization.

What do you hope to accomplish in this new position?

My primary goals include increased membership, community involvement and public awareness. DAR has grown by about 12 percent in the last decade, and we are working to achieve continued growth in membership during the years leading up to our nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

DAR, which was founded in 1890 to perpetuate the memory and the spirit of the men and women who achieved American independence, has a timelessly relevant three-fold mission to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. As just a few examples, we support active-duty military, are among the largest group of volunteers at VA medical centers, provide hundreds of thousands of scholarships annually, promote historical literacy, sponsor naturalization ceremonies and celebrate local chapters of American history wherever we serve.

Wilhelmena Rhodes Kelly will head up the New York DAR organization, becoming the first African-American woman on its national governing board. What effort is the DAR making to encourage women of color to get involved, after such a long history of exclusion?

We have long worked to raise awareness of the contributions of all patriots who won our independence, including females and those of minority groups, who are often left out of traditional history books. For decades, we have conducted outreach to welcome women of all backgrounds who descend from these first Americans. We’re thrilled that Wilhelmena, who started a new chapter in Queens several years ago, has been elected our state regent — and we hope that it demonstrates to women of all interests that we want their contributions and we are thirsty for their perspectives. The nation’s motto of “E Pluribus Unum” applies to DAR as well — we are many but we are one in patriotic service to our nation.

What is your family connection to a patriot of the American Revolution?

I am aware of three patriots of the American Revolution from whom I descend — militiamen/millers father Jacob and son Marcus Plattner of Columbia County, as well as Simon Freer of Poughkeepsie. He died here in 1797 and was a signer of the Articles of Association in Dutchess County in 1775.

How does one begin to determine her lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution?

The good news is that the internet has revolutionized family research. There are so many source records now online that can help those who are interested to trace their heritage to someone who aided the cause of the Americans. We typically recommend that women work to document at least the nearest three-four generations — once they find a line that they think has promise, our chapter registrars and other volunteers are terrific about helping them to find out if they might be eligible.

What are some of the local projects DAR members work on?

Here in Dutchess County, my Melzingah Chapter has owned and operated the circa 1709 Madam Brett Homestead (the oldest building in Dutchess County) since the 1950s, when it was going to be torn down for a supermarket. We also volunteer at Castle Point VA, stage an annual American History Essay Contest, sponsor naturalization ceremonies and support proper display of the American flag. There are two other chapters in Dutchess: Mahwenawasigh (Poughkeepsie) and Chancellor Livingston (Rhinebeck). Like DAR chapters around the world, we provide women the opportunity to express their love of country through an amazing array of service options. As one example, our members produced tens of thousands of pollinator gardens in recent years through the auspices of our more-than-century-old Conservation Committee.

Barbara Gallo Farrell: bfarrell@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4979; Twitter: @PJBarb

On the web

Daughters of the American Revolution: www.dar.org