DAR honors Scottsdale historian Joan Fudala

The Grand Canyon Chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, presented Joan Fudala, the official City of Scottsdale Historian, with the Daughters of the American Revolution Historic Preservation Excellence Award.

The Excellence in Historic Preservation Award honors individuals that have saved and/or preserved their local history, including restoration of buildings, collections, significant objects, monuments, cemeteries, and other important artifacts, according to a press release.

Joan Fudala was recently named Scottsdale’s historian but her work to preserve Scottsdale’s history is a long one dating back to the 1990’s. She has written seven books about Scottsdale’s history. She has written a column in Scottsdale Airpark for twenty-three years as well as articles in the Arizona Republic and Scottsdale Progress. She has helped numerous Scottsdale organizations with historic preservation projects, including Grand Canyon Chapter Daughters of American Revolution. Grand Canyon placed two Daughters of American Revolution historic markers recently. One on the Scottsdale Grammar School #2/Loloma School in 2022 and the Roald Amundsen Pullman Car at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in 2023. She consulted on their histories, wrote letters of recommendation, and spoke at the marker dedications. Grand Canyon Chapter bestowed the highest honor of Daughters of the Revolution Historic Preservation Excellence upon Joan. This honors both her employment in Scottsdale as well as her consistent volunteering in preserving Scottsdale’s rich history.

The Grand Canyon Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, founded in 1983 and based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and supporting education. As one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country, the Daughters of the American Revolution consists of members in chapters across the United States and internationally. More than 1 million women have joined the organization since it was founded 130 years ago. For more information on the chapter, visit: http://grandcanyon.arizonadar.org.