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Membership Categories & Requirements

Membership in the DMWV is available, by application, in four categories:

• Adult Full.
• Adult Associate.
• Junior Full.
• Junior Associate.

Life membership is available as an adjunct, by application, to any of the above-listed categories.

All persons wishing to join the DMWV in all but the Honorary category must complete and sign an application form. Applicants must also pay a one-time initiation fee and are subject to payment of annual dues in order to be placed on the active roll. First dues may be pro-rated, based of the quarter of the membership year in which the application is received. Gift memberships are permitted (in other words, you may pay the cost of membership for another person) but the person upon whom membership will be bestowed must sign and date an application.

Membership Requirements

Adult Full membership in The Descendants of Mexican War Veterans is available to any person who is:

• at least 18 years of age.
• is of good moral character.

1. the lineal descendant (or collateral kinsman or kinswoman) of a U.S. veteran who rendered honorable service in the war with Mexico for any length of time between April 25, 1846 and August 2, 1848.
2. the descendant of a civilian employee of the U.S. armed forces who served during the Mexican War as a teamster, laundress, steamboat hand, etc.
3. the descendant of a veteran of General Zachary Taylor's "Army of Occupation" in Texas from July 1845 to April 1846.
4. the descendant of a veteran of Col. John C. Fremont's 1845-1846 expedition to California.
5. the descendant of a California "Bear Flag Revolt" participant.

• pay all applicable dues and fees.
• complete a lineage chart.
• provide acceptable documentary evidence of veteran ancestor's service, which for regular and volunteer soldiers (except 3 and 4 above) must have occurred between April 25, 1846 and August 2, 1848. See following section.

Acceptable Documentary Evidence of Veteran Ancestor's Service

Documentary evidence of an veteran ancestor's military service must provide the name and rank of the veteran and identify the military unit (i.e., company, regiment, battalion, ship, etc.) with which he served. A legible reproduction (i.e., photocopy) of any one or more of the following named documents are acceptable:

1. Discharge certificate
2. Muster roll page
3. National Archives Mexican War Volunteers index card
4. National Archives Regular Army, Navy, or Marines enlistments index page or card
5. Bounty land warrant
6. Approved pension application
7. National Archives Old Wars or Mexican War pension application index card with indication that pension was approved
8. Listing in Heitman's Roster of U.S. Army Officers, Robart's Mexican War Veterans, or a similar printed roster of U.S. military officers
9. Printed roster published by a state government
10. Printed roster transcribed from official muster rolls

Evidence of the service of a civilian employee of the United States who served in the War with Mexico shall consist of the legible reproduction of any document generated by the federal government or a state government that provides evidence of said service.

1. Pages from a printed Mexican War pension index
2. Obituaries
3. Family history books
4. Newspaper articles
5. Pages from printed rosters that have not been transcribed from original muster rolls
6. Photographs of grave markers

• In the absence of any of the acceptable items listed above, any other document (such as a diary or letters) not specifically excluded may be accepted as evidence of service at the discretion of any person authorized to review said evidence and approve applications for membership.
• Whenever a substituted document is submitted as evidence, it must be accompanied by a letter signed and dated by the applicant, stating that none of the acceptable items are available.

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Adult Associate

Adult Associate membership is available to any person of at least 18 years of age who lacks a qualifying ancestor but who otherwise meets the above requirements and who is interested in the Mexican War and in furthering the aims and objectives of this organization.

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Junior Full & Junior Associate

Junior membership is available in either the Full or Associate category for persons less than eighteen years of age. After he or she attains the age of eighteen, a junior member may transfer membership to an adult category without further charge (apart from the payment of annual dues). Most of the rights, privileges, benefits, and responsibilities of adult members are not applicable to junior members.

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Life Membership

Life membership is available as an adjunct to either the Full or Associate category. It requires a donation of $1,000 (cumulatively over time, or in one lump sum) to the society's general fund. Life members are thereafter exempt from dues for life.

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