About the UDC

During the War Between the States, the women on the home front not only cared for their homes and children, but also sewed uniforms and clothing for their loved ones and for local companies. They rolled bandages and assisted as nurses in caring for wounded soldiers. They kept gravesites clean. Often, they banded together with local women in sewing circles and cemetery committees. After the war ended, these groups of women continued their work by caring for cemeteries, erecting memorials, and serving as auxiliaries to camps of the United Confederate Veterans (the forerunner of the SCV). As these organizations expanded in scope, two organized at the state level, the Missouri Daughters of the Confederacy and the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Confederate Soldiers Home in Tennessee. 

The Tennessee organization later used the name Daughters of the Confederacy, with Mrs. Caroline Meriwether Goodlett as president. At the same time, a similar association had been formed in Savannah by Mrs. Anna Davenport Raines, also called Daughters of the Confederacy. When Mrs. Goodlett and Mrs. Raines became aware of each other's work, they joined together and put out a call for ladies from other states to meet in Nashville in 1894 to form the National Organization of the Daughters of the Confederacy. At the convention the following year, the name was changed to United Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. Goodlett was the first president, and Mrs. Raines the first vice president. In 1919, the UDC was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. 

The objectives of the organization are five-fold:

The UDC's commitment to preserving history is seen in the large collection of books, letters, and other papers assembled in the Goodlett Memorial Library, housed in the UDC Memorial Building in Richmond. Awards are also given by the organization for outstanding contributions to the preservation of Confederate history.  

Benevolent activities are carried out at the national, state, and local level, including raising funds and gathering supplies and inventory for homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and food banks. The UDC also responds with financial and material assistance in the aftermath of emergencies such as hurricanes, tornados, and floods.

In addition to the Goodlett Memorial Library, the UDC promotes education through the presentation of academic awards and scholarships. Scholarships are funded by members at all levels, assisting the descendants of Confederate veterans in their educational pursuits.

Monuments to Confederate soldiers exist in all former states of the Confederacy, and in some northern states where there are cemeteries for those who died in Union prisoner of war camps. The UDC is responsible for the erection and guardianship of many of these monuments, including the one at Arlington National Cemetery, which was unveiled in 1914. 

The UDC has responded to the nation's call in times of war, beginning with the First World War, by funding hospital care and supplies, and selling war bonds. Today, members donate funds and many hours of volunteer time to VA hospitals. 

You can read more about the work the UDC has does at the website of the national organization: https://hqudc.org/. 

WHEREAS, The United Daughters of the Confederacy is a tax-exempt, non-profit Organization whose objectives are Historical, Benevolent, Educational, Memorial and Patriotic; AND

WHEREAS, The United Daughters of the Confederacy® is an Organization dedicated to the purpose of honoring the memory of its Confederate ancestors; protecting, preserving and marking the places made historic by Confederate valor; collecting and preserving the material for a truthful history of the War Between the States; recording the participation of Southern women in their patient endurance of hardship and patriotic devotion during and after the War Between the States; fulfilling the sacred duty of benevolence toward the survivors and those dependent upon them; assisting descendants of worthy Confederates in securing a proper education; honoring the service of veterans from all wars as well as active duty military personnel and cherishing the ties of friendship among the members of the organization, AND

WHEREAS, The United Daughters of the Confederacy® is a patriotic Organization which honors and upholds the United States of America and respects its Flag, AND

WHEREAS, The United Daughters of the Confederacy® does not subscribe to policies of individuals, groups or organizations that do not honor and respect the United States of America and its Flag,

THEREFORE, BE IT KNOWN, that The United Daughters of the Confederacy® does not associate with or include in its official UDC functions and events, any individual, group or organization known as unpatriotic, militant, racist or subversive to the United States of America and its Flag, AND

BE IT FURTHER KNOWN, that The United Daughters of the Confederacy® will not associate with any individual, group or organization identified as being militant, unpatriotic, racist or subversive to the United States of America and its Flag.

© Alabama Division UDC 2022-2024

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​The presence of links to outside websites does not imply endorsement, approval, or 
concurrence by the United Daughters of the Confederacy® on any level.​ 

The name "United Daughters of the Confederacy" is a registered trademark of the General Organization and may not be used outside the Organization without the
express written consent of the United Daughters of the Confederacy®​. The official UDC insignia is a registered trademark of the General Organization and may not be used 
without the express written consent of the President General.

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