Purpose & Background

Society > Purpose & Background

We welcome your interest in Clan Keith and The Clan Keith Society USA, Inc. We are a worldwide family - one of diverse interests, all bound together by the union of the Keith's and its septs.

PURPOSE

The Clan Keith Society USA, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote education and fellowship for individuals and families living in the United States whose ancestry trace back to one of Scotland's oldest and most illustrious families.

The purposes of the Society are:

(1) to dispense charitable and educational assistance to Scots men and women or their lineal descendants;

(2) to perpetuate Scottish traditions, customs and culture in the United States;

(3) to provide members with access to genealogical records and materials held by the Society.

BACKGROUND

Under the directions of the Earls of Kintore, Clan Keith is organized as three autonomous national societies: U.S.A., Canada and Australia (includes New Zealand); all are mutually supportive under the Chief's guidance. The Chief appoints Lieutenants to the Chief for the USA and Canada, and a High Commissioner for Australia.

The U.S.A. Society was founded by George and John Newberry at Grandfather Mountain, under a Bond of Manrent from the 12th Earl of Kintore, Chief of the name Keith. The Society was incorporated as a 501-c4 Note for Society set forth in the Articles of Incorporation:

1. to dispense charitable and educational assistance to Scots and their lineal descendants;
2. to perpetuate Scottish traditions, customs and culture in the United States;
3. to provide members with access to genealogical records and materials held by the Society.

The Society achieves its purposes many ways, e.g., The Academic Award, The William S. Latimore Scholarship Award in Performing Celtic Arts, The Harvey Literary Prize, Newsletter: Keith & Kin, and through historical and heritage displays and presentations at over 65 Games and Festivals each year.

The Society has been fortunate to have three conceerned and active Clan Chiefs. The 12th Earl of Kintore worked closely with George Newberry, Linton Keith. Jim Falconer and Ned Buxton during the formative years of the Society. In 1977 he commissioned George Newberry as Lieutenant to the Chief. Mr. Newberry later relinquished this post to Thomas M. Keith; he resigned in 1987 and Darrell S. Keith was appointed. In 1978 the 12th Earl signed a "Covenant of Friendship fo All Time" with Clan Gunn after about 600 years of feuding. As Chief of the name Keith, he was Guest of Honor at the Stone Mountain Highland Games near Atlanta in 1980; the same year that the Society was granted complete autonomy.

The 13th Earl of Kintore ably and vigorously assumed Clan Leadership upon his father's death in 1989. He supervised the formaiton of other Clan Keith National Societies, and made several appearances as Guest of Honor at North American Highland Games: Alexandria, VA - 1995; Loon Mt, NH - 1997; Glasgow, KY - 2000; Stone Mt., GA - 2003; Seattle, WA - 2004; and Fergus, Canada - 2004. In 2002 the 13th Earl and his charming, vivacious Countess organized a worldwide, 5-day 'Millenial Gather' of Keiths in Scotland. He, the Lady Kintore, Lord Inverurie and Lady Iona led tours to many historical Keith sites in Aberdeen, Peterhead, Keith Hall Estate, and other areas of Northeas Scotland; included in these visits was a great visit to Marischal College on the occasion of the College's 400th anniversary of its founding by Lord Kintore's ancestory, the 5th Earl Marischal. Lord Kintore received an honorary degree of law from Marischal College.

The 14th Earl of Kintore assumed the role of Chief of Clan Keith with fitting style and energy in 2004. His first visit to the U.S.A. will be as the Guest of Honor at the 50th Anniversary of Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in July 2005.

Clan Keith is on the march! Come join us as we advance into our second one thousand years with expectations of greater achievements for members and our Society.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

"The Beginning of the Society: An Interview with George Newberry", Keith & Kin, Second Quarter 2002.

Clan Keith Society USA, Inc's Photo Archives

THE MANY FACES OF
CLAN KEITH

"Slowly members of the Keith Clan came to our tent and in the late sixties and early seventies the thought arose that we should form our own Society. We marched as a Clan in 1970 and 1971 at Grandfather. In 1972 we marched as a Clan Society." - George Newberry, co-founder

"The Beginning of the Society: An Interview with George Newberry", Keith & Kin, Second Quarter 2002.

SEPTS & SPELLINGS OF CLAN KEITH

Austin, Cate(s), Dickson, Dixon, Dixson, Dick, Falconer, Faulkner, Harvey, Hackston, Haxton, Hervey, Hurrie, Hurry, Keath, Keech, Keeth, Keyth, Kite, Lumgair, MacKeith, Marshall, Urie, Urry