DAR donation to help digitize Civil War diaries at the Dunn Museum

The Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County Forest Preserve, Preservation Foundation, received financial support from Barrington-based Signal Hill Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in the amount of $1,500.

The donation was directed toward digitizing two diaries in the Dunn Museum's Minto Family Collection.

The two diaries selected for the project belonged to David J. Minto (1841-1915). They are his Civil War diary and postwar diary, and provide insight into the life of a rural Northeastern Illinois farmer, his enlistment in the Union Army, and his postwar life.

Civil War veterans are often only known for their military service, but these diaries encapsulate the full life of David Minto and his family.

The Signal Hill Chapter NSDAR was founded in Barrington in 1972. Due to its fundraising efforts throughout 2021, the chapter was able to contribute financially to a number of 501(c)(3) organizations, specifically in the areas of historic preservation, education, patriotism, conservation and Native Americans.

Membership in NSDAR is open to any woman 18 and older who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.

For information about the Signal Hill Chapter NSDAR, visit signalhilldar.com.

• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherlad.com/share.