Membership

Become Part of the Legacy

You don’t need to have your lineage figured out to belong here. DHF welcomes individuals who believe African American family histories, military service, and stories of perseverance deserve to be discovered, preserved, and remembered.

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Join as a Heritage Member — $50/year

No lineage documentation required

Membership Benefits

Your Heritage Membership Includes

Official DHF digital membership card and member number
Access to members-only genealogy resources and research tools
Access to members-only educational programs and genealogy workshops as they become available
Early access or priority registration for select DHF programs and events
The Heritage & Freedom Quarterly newsletter
Opportunities to submit family histories or ancestors for consideration in DHF educational features
Access to the DHF member portal
Eligibility to pursue DHF Verified Lineage status
Connection to a growing community committed to preserving African American history, genealogy, and military heritage

Your membership does more than provide benefits. It helps DHF preserve overlooked histories, expand genealogy and educational resources, and ensure that the stories of African American patriots, soldiers, families, and communities are carried forward.

Join DHF — $50/year

Everyone Is Welcome

You Don’t Need Proven Lineage to Join

Still researching your family? That’s okay. Heritage Membership is open to individuals who support DHF’s mission and want to participate in our community.

You can begin as a Heritage Member while exploring your family history. If you later document qualifying ancestry, you may pursue Verified Lineage status.

Become a Heritage Member

Why We Gather

Membership Is an Act of Preservation

To become a member of Descendants of Heritage and Freedom is to accept a responsibility that reaches backward and forward at once — to honor those who came before us, and to make certain their names reach those who come after.

Our members preserve the record of African American service in the nation's wars, recover family histories that time and circumstance nearly erased, educate future generations through programs and publications, and build a lasting community devoted to African American military history and genealogy.

This work does not belong to historians alone. It belongs to families.

An Open Door

Who Should Join?

Descendants of Heritage and Freedom welcomes everyone who shares our commitment to preserving the legacy of African Americans who served in the nation's military history.

Descendants of Revolutionary War Patriots
Descendants of Black Loyalists
Descendants of United States Colored Troops (USCT)
Individuals researching their family history
Genealogists
Historians
Educators and students
Museum and preservation professionals
Military history enthusiasts
Anyone passionate about preserving African American history

Whether you have already documented your family's military legacy or are just beginning your journey of discovery, there is a place for you at Descendants of Heritage and Freedom.

Impact

Your Membership Makes a Difference

Every membership directly supports:

Historical research
Educational programming
Preservation of African American military history
Genealogical resources
Development of future publications
Community partnerships
Preservation of stories that might otherwise be lost

Together, we ensure these stories are never forgotten.

Membership Categories

Choosing Your Pathway

Descendants of Heritage and Freedom™ offers two membership pathways — plus dedicated genealogical research services to help you discover and document your family story. Annual dues sustain the research, programming, and preservation work described above.

Heritage Membership

$50/ year

Annual Dues

Heritage Membership is for individuals who support the mission of Descendants of Heritage and Freedom and wish to participate in our educational programs, preservation initiatives, events, and organizational activities.

No lineage documentation is required for Heritage Membership.

Join as a Heritage Member

Founding Lineage Member Opportunity

Verified Lineage Membership

$150initial

Initial Application Fee

$50 Annual Membership Dues
$100 Lineage Verification Review Fee

Verified Lineage Membership is for individuals who have already identified a qualifying ancestor and possess genealogical documentation demonstrating their lineage connection.

The $100 verification fee covers review and evaluation of submitted documentation, correspondence regarding any additional records needed, final determination, and establishment of lineage records.

Once approved, annual renewal is $50 per year.

Apply for Verified Lineage Membership

Verified Lineage

Benefits of Verified Lineage Membership

Verified Lineage Members receive all Heritage Member benefits, plus the distinction and recognition that comes with documenting and preserving a verified ancestral connection to a qualifying patriot, soldier, or ancestor recognized by DHF.

Official DHF Lineage Recognition

Receive formal recognition by Descendants of Heritage and Freedom as a verified descendant of a qualifying ancestor.

Inclusion in the DHF Ancestor Registry

Your qualifying ancestor will be preserved within the official DHF Ancestor Registry, helping ensure their service, sacrifice, and legacy are remembered for future generations.

Personalized Lineage Certificate

Receive an official DHF Lineage Certificate recognizing your verified ancestral connection.

Preservation of Family History

Your documented lineage becomes part of DHF's historical and genealogical preservation efforts.

Verified Lineage Member Designation

Eligible to identify yourself as a Verified Lineage Member of Descendants of Heritage and Freedom.

Eligibility for Lineage-Based Recognition Programs

Participation in future lineage-based recognitions, heritage initiatives, commemorative projects, and preservation activities developed by DHF.

Foundational Legacy Recognition

As an early Verified Lineage Member, you help establish the historical foundation upon which DHF is built and contribute to preserving the stories of African American patriots and soldiers for future generations.

"Verified Lineage Membership is more than membership — it is the formal preservation and recognition of your family's place in American history."

Permanent Historical Record

The DHF Ancestor Registry

The DHF Ancestor Registry is a permanent historical record honoring verified African American patriots, soldiers, and other qualifying ancestors documented through DHF's lineage verification process.

Through this registry, DHF preserves the names, service, and legacy of those whose contributions helped shape our nation while ensuring their descendants remain connected to their stories.

Please note: Only verified ancestors documented through DHF's lineage verification process are eligible for inclusion in the DHF Ancestor Registry.

Discover Your Family Story

Genealogical Research Services

DHF offers genealogical research assistance through qualified researchers for individuals who wish to identify, document, and preserve their family history.

Research services are available to Heritage Members who need assistance locating a qualifying ancestor or documenting their lineage.

How the Process Works

Become a Heritage Member.

Request Genealogical Research Assistance.

A DHF-affiliated genealogist reviews the information provided.

The genealogist prepares a research assessment and estimated scope of work.

The individual decides whether to proceed with the proposed research project.

If a qualifying ancestor is identified and documented, the individual may apply for Verified Lineage Membership.

Research Fees

Genealogical research services are separate from membership dues and lineage verification fees. Because every family history is unique, research costs are determined on a case-by-case basis based on the complexity and scope of the project. A research estimate will be provided before any work begins.

Important Information

Payment for genealogical research services does not guarantee identification of a qualifying ancestor or approval for Verified Lineage Membership. All lineage applications remain subject to DHF's verification standards and review process.

Compare

Which Path Is Right for You?

	Heritage Member	Verified Lineage Member	Genealogical Research ServicesResearch services are available to Heritage and Verified Lineage Members.
Purpose	Support the mission & participate	Document & preserve verified ancestry	Professional assistance identifying, documenting, and verifying ancestral connections
Documentation Required	None	Genealogical documentation	None to begin
Membership Status	Heritage Member	Verified Lineage Member	Service (not a membership)
Lineage Verification Included
Research Assistance Available
Annual Cost	$50	$150 initial, then $50 annually	$50 Heritage Membership + Custom Research Quote
Application Process	Join online	Apply + verification review	Become a Heritage Member → Request Research Consultation → Receive Custom Quote

Statement of Integrity

"DHF maintains a clear distinction between verified lineage and cultural affiliation to ensure both historical accuracy and inclusive participation."

This distinction preserves the integrity of our history while allowing for meaningful and intentional participation.

Begin Your Journey

Not Sure Where to Start?

Whether you already know your family history or are beginning your journey of discovery, DHF can help you honor, preserve, and celebrate the legacy of your ancestors.

Become a Heritage Member Apply for Lineage Verification Request Research Assistance

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Donations may be tax-deductible as allowed by law
Dedicated to education, historical preservation, genealogy, and public history