Criteria for Joining

In order to join RIFRAF, one must find a common ancestor with a person of fame or infamy. We call this person of fame or infamy the Propositus. The common ancestor must have been living by 1550 or later, but may or may not have been on American soil, however within one or two generations, the line from which you descend must have been American. The Propositus must be an American, and must be deceased. So, for example, Henry Fonda would qualify as a Propositus because he is deceased, but Jane Fonda would not because she is still living.

There are nine categories of interest explored by RIFRAF, as follows:

(1) AMERICANA – i.e., persons who contributed significantly to American culture or history, but whose contributions do not fall into one of the previous categories) – e.g., Betsy Ross, Clara Barton, Susan B. Anthony, &c.

(2) HARD SCIENCES – e.g., chemistry, physics, medicine, biology, astronomy, statistics, &c.

(3) persons of INFAMY of national note – e.g., Lizzie Borden, Jesse James, Ma Dalton, Benedict Arnold, John Wilkes Booth, &c. These people might be serial killers, mass murderers, political assassins, counterfeiters, terrorists, &c.

(4) INVENTORS – i.e., persons who invented things with which most people are familiar)

(5) LITERARY ARTS – e.g., writers, poets, playwrights, &c.

(6) MUSICAL ARTS – e.g., singers, musicians, conductors, composers, &c.

(7) SPORTS of national concern – e.g., football, baseball, hockey, tennis, basketball, &c., and this category also allows for recognition of any deceased individual who represented the United States in any World Olympics;

(8) THEATRICAL ARTS – e.g., actors, dancers, directors, producers, &c.

(9) VISUAL ARTS – e.g., painters, sculptors, architects, &c.;

There are, of course, individuals who qualify for more than one category. Benjamin Franklin, for example, could be considered for Americana, Inventors, and the Literary Arts. However, a Propositus may be used for only one category, and no Propositus may be used more than once. Therefore, in the event an applicant’s Propositus qualifies for more than one category, the applicant should consider carefully which category to claim for that Propositus.

In the event a Propositus is not obviously identifiable as famous or infamous, applicants have the opportunity to make a case for consideration of eligibility. To do so, the applicant should include whatever documentary evidence he or she wishes to have considered that illustrates the Propositus’s notability. All such cases will be reviewed by our Tribunal of Beldams and Gaffers. All decisions of the Tribunal will be communicated and are final.

Who we DO NOT Recognize

Many lineage societies exist to recognize a multitude of genealogical connections. For this reason, we do not recognize people who fall into certain categories. The following groups of people are not recognized by RIFRAF as qualifying Propositi: Presidents and First Ladies; notable Military personnel (such as William Tecumseh Sherman); Signers of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, or other important documents (such as Roger Sherman and other statesmen); other American political figures (such as Congressmen, Senators, Supreme Court justices), and other similar figures who would not fall specifically into one of our nine categories outlined above. Likewise, those who are recognized must be known to the masses (or in the case of inventors, for example, while the Inventor may not be known to the masses, the Invention will be). So keep in mind that the individuals you choose for your Propositi must have a significant impact. If you are not sure whether a person qualifies, ask the Pooh-bah of the Registry, whose contact information is in the Instructions to our downloadable Application.

How to Apply

Our application process is unique. Individuals who are interested in joining RIFRAF must complete a Propositus Form and return it, along with all appropriate documentation, to the Pooh-bah of the Registry.

The cost per category, and the payment process are outlined in our Instructions. Please follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the approval process.

The Applicant must have already used the lineage that establishes kinship to the Propositus for membership in some other lineage society. That lineage may have established new membership or supplementary membership. The applicant’s lineage, therefore, has already been approved. A record copy of that approved lineage, bearing all approval signatures and membership numbers, will be submitted with our application. In the event you have not specifically used your common ancestor for joining another society (he/she does not appear on an application you completed to join another society), but the lineage is almost completely the same as on the record copy you’re submitting, then RIFRAF will accept up to two generations of evidence in order to make the connection from your common ancestor with the Propositus. Having met this requirement, it then remains for the applicant only to prove his or her claimed kinship to the Propositus. This is done, of course, through standard genealogical source materials, but applicants should be aware of recent compilations that are also acceptable to RIFRAF. Among them are the two Notable Kin volumes, American Ancestry and Cousins of the Princess of Wales, and The Mayflower 500, all by Gary Boyd Roberts, which contain a multitude of very interesting connections. Additionally, the RIFRAF officers regularly develop documented lineages of notables. It is always useful for the applicant to consult with the Pooh-bah of the Registry before submitting an application to determine whether a specific lineage has already been researched. Applicants also may be able to share the identity of other notables from their ancestor, thus enabling the applicant complete more than one category. The second page of our application is a table of names only, which must be completed for submission with the rest of your materials.

Dues and Fees

There are no dues.

Only one category is required in order to establish membership, though most members endeavor to capture as many of the nine categories as possible. More than 30% of our members have done so. Applicants pay a $40 registration fee per category. The fee must be remitted with the Propositus Form and the required accompanying supporting documentation. The fee covers the cost of registration, a certificate, and a pin for the category being claimed through the Propositus. The pins and certificates are different for each category of qualification, and resemble those images shown on our emblem on each page of this website. A small insigne on breast ribbon is available to members once they have established at least three categories. This insigne may be separated from the ribbon and used as a charm for a bracelet, necklace, or ancestor bar.

See the Instructions for how to pay.

Age Limitation and Establishing of Family Members

There is no age limitation for membership. Anyone who is a member of a lineage society through a qualifying ancestry may also join RIFRAF, provided the additional requirements previously outlined are met by the applicant. RIFRAF members who wish to establish membership for their children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews may do so without those relatives already having established membership in other organizations, provided they piggy-back the sponsoring member’s applications. Should a member wish to establish membership for such family members, please contact the Pooh-bah of the Registry for the appropriate form and guidance.

Our Application and Instructions

Our Application, called a “Propositus Form,” and its Instructions are downloadable here. For convenience, the information stated above is reiterated in the Instructions.