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AMERICAN RED CROSS:

140 Years of Compassionate Service

ince it was founded in 1881, Junior Red Cross members, produced over 372 million relief articles
the American Red Cross, during the war years with a value of nearly $94 million.
Sone of the nation’s premier Throughout the century, the American Red Cross was everywhere
humanitarian organizations, has humanitarian and medical aid was needed, whether it was combatting
been dedicated to serving people the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918, providing services to the U.S.
in need, here in the United States Military during World War II, providing relief for victims of
and abroad, with affiliated Red major disasters, servicing veterans, or holding blood drives. Their
Cross organizations. In 2021, the certification programs in safety training continue to be recognized as
American Red Cross celebrated industry standards.
its 140th anniversary of providing
compassionate service, paying RED CROSS COLLECTIBLES
recognition to its founder, The iconic simple red cross on a white background
Clarissa Harlowe (Clara) Barton, is one the most recognized symbols in the world.
one of the most honored women The easily identified logo was therefore
in American history. incorporated into everything worn and used
Clara Barton was working
WWII Red Cross Poster “The Spirit of America” in the U.S. Patent Office in when in the service to others to identify and
by Howard Chandler Christy, sold for $400 Washington, D.C. when the protect them, especially on the battlefield. This
in 2021 at EJ’s Auction includes nurses caps, uniforms, armbands, clothing
Civil War began. Like many patches, pins, and coat buttons, among other items.
women, she helped collect bandages and other much-needed supplies, While the logo remains the constant identifier, the
but soon realized that she could best support the troops by going American Red Cross design and fabric used can help date an item.
in-person to the battlefields. Throughout many major battles of the war, 1917 WWI-Era pin There is also a host of recognition items that can
she nursed, comforted, and cooked for the wounded, earning the selling for $5.95 on add to a collection, from Certificates of Meritorious
nickname the “Angel of the Battlefield.” eBay Service to service medals pins. One website,
When her service to the Union soldiers www.collectarc.com, offers A Collector’s Guide to
was complete, Barton traveled to Europe. Red Cross Pins for free. There’s even an active American Red Cross
There, she became aware of the Geneva, Pin and Memorabilia Collectors page on Facebook at
Switzerland-based Red Cross, which called www.facebook.com/groups/RedCrossMemorabilia.
for international agreements to protect the The Red Cross logo also found its way into the ephemera market,
sick and wounded during wartime and for where poster art, Red Cross training manuals, first aid textbooks,
the formation of national societies to give aid recruitment brochures, commemorative stamps, sheet music, and
voluntarily on a neutral basis. print ads, among other items can help build a collection.
Upon her return home, Barton was Red Cross items are plentiful. Hundreds of thousands of
determined that the U.S. should participate Americans have volunteered in some capacity over the organization’s
in the global Red Cross network. Working 140-year history, earning the right to identify themselves and their
with influential friends and contacts such as service with the red cross. The result is a market filled with items such
Frederick Douglass, she founded the Portrait of Clara Barton, as pins and medals that, unless rare and from its early history, are
American Red Cross in 1881. Barton went 1821-1912 plentiful and in the under $10 range for the most part. Items such as
on to serve as president of the organization uniforms or uniform elements can command
until 1904, when she resigned at age 83. She more but here, condition, era, and authenticity
died on April 12, 1912, but left a lasting will determine value.
service of volunteerism and humanitarian aid The real money these days is in Red Cross
that today is recognized and respected the poster art, especially those done by the hand
world over. of a great American illustrator of the 20th
Before the First World War, the Red century. Authentic poster art can command
Cross introduced its first aid, water safety, in the thousands, based on image, illustrator,
and public health nursing programs but with and era.
the outbreak of war, its support became Red Cross collections share a great chapter
critical to, and an important way to support, in our nation’s history and are built with
the war effort. The number of local chapters pride and purpose. With no shortage of
jumped from 107 in 1914 to 3,864 in 1918, places and people in need of their support,
and membership grew from 17,000 to over both here and elsewhere around the world,
20 million adult and 11 million Junior Red there is only hope that the Red Cross will
Cross members. The public contributed continue to build on its 140-year legacy of
$400 million in funds and materials to support and aid for the times to come.
support its programs, including those for
American and Allied forces and civilian
refugees. The Red Cross staffed hospitals
and ambulance companies and recruited Metropolitan Opera House American Red Cross
20,000 registered nurses to serve the Benefit Program selling for $318.50 at
military. Thousands of women across the www.Abebooks.com This event was conducted
country produced and donated surgical under the auspices of the Allies Theatrical &
dressings, comfort kits, medical supplies, and Motion Picture Team and starred Enrico Caruso,
garments for the troops overseas. In 1917 Sophie Braslan, and others. The cover art was done
alone, 8 million volunteers, with help from by James Montgomery Flagg.
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