Washington was one of the four co-founders of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (with Mary Desha, Mary Smith Lockwood, and Ellen Hardin Walworth).
The organization's founders emulated the Sons of the American Revolution, founded in New York City on April 30, 1889, which excluded women.
According to society tradition, Washington's experiences during the American Civil War "inspired in her a will to assist women from both the North and the South in the worthy cause of preserving their shared heritage".

Washington and Desha consulted regularly with Sons of the American Revolution members for advice, particularly Registrar General Dr. George Brown Goode, Secretary General A. Howard Clark, William O. McDowell (SAR member #1), and Wilson L. Gill (secretary at the inaugural meeting).
On October 11, 1890, at 2 pm, the 18 founding members and these four men met at the Stratford Arms in Washington, D.C., thus forming the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Washington, Desha, Lockwood, and Walworth are called co-founders since they held two to three meetings in August 1890.

Washington was the DAR's first Registrar General, and her name appears as member "number one" on the "grand roll" of membership.
Washington also served as secretary general, vice president general, and in 1895 she became honorary vice president general, an office which she held until her death.
Under Washington's leadership, the society raised funds for a national monument to Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington.
Washington ardently carried out the duties of her offices at DAR, despite suffering with a serious eye condition that made it difficult for her to write.
Washington stated, "We want a patriotic society founded on service and I will not become a member of an organization which is founded on rank and not on the service of the ancestors."
Washington was one of the four co-founders of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (with Mary Desha, Mary Smith Lockwood, and Ellen Hardin Walworth). The organization's founders emulated the Sons of the American Revolution, founded in New York City on April 30, 1889, which excluded women. According to society tradition, Washington's experiences during the American Civil War "inspired in her a will to assist women from both the North and the South in the worthy cause of preserving their shared heritage".
Washington and Desha consulted regularly with Sons of the American Revolution members for advice, particularly Registrar General Dr. George Brown Goode, Secretary General A. Howard Clark, William O. McDowell (SAR member #1), and Wilson L. Gill (secretary at the inaugural meeting). On October 11, 1890, at 2 pm, the 18 founding members and these four men met at the Stratford Arms in Washington, D.C., thus forming the Daughters of the American Revolution. Washington, Desha, Lockwood, and Walworth are called co-founders since they held two to three meetings in August 1890.
Washington was the DAR's first Registrar General, and her name appears as member "number one" on the "grand roll" of membership. Washington also served as secretary general, vice president general, and in 1895 she became honorary vice president general, an office which she held until her death. Under Washington's leadership, the society raised funds for a national monument to Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington. Washington ardently carried out the duties of her offices at DAR, despite suffering with a serious eye condition that made it difficult for her to write. Washington stated, "We want a patriotic society founded on service and I will not become a member of an organization which is founded on rank and not on the service of the ancestors."
Eugenia Washington