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| Title | American Red Cross Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter |
| Finding Aid Identifier | Ms 46 |
| Finding Aid Title | American Red Cross Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter |
| Subject | finding aid; American Red Cross; Tacoma, WA; nursing; World War I; World War II |
| Abstract | Records for the American Red Cross Tacoma-Pierce County chapter between 1898-1994. |
| Biography | Spanish-American War soldiers quartered in the old Exposition building in Tacoma, Washington gave impetus to the formation of the Pierce County Society one of two Red Cross chapters in Washington formed in 1898. More than 100 men and women joined at a meeting in Chickering Hall. Louis D. Campbell was elected president. The headquarters was set in the Tacoma City Hall. The young chapter fed soldiers and rolled bandages.
In 1916, the chapter reformed shortly before World War I. During the war, members assisted the war movement by aiding civilians with relatives in the war, rolling bandages, having blood and clothing drives, and raising money, Even though the war remained central to their actions, the chapter also provided relief in local emergencies and to local needy people.
When World War II occurred, the chapter focused on helping the war movement but they also
remained committed to their local activities. During this period the chapter sponsored first aid training, home nursing classes, swimming lessons, and civilian relief in the local area. For the war movement, members volunteered in the Red Cross Motor Corps, who drove civilians to doctor appointments or recovering soldiers on trips and the Gray Ladies, who provided comfort to soldiers in the hospital.
The Tacoma-Pierce County American Red Cross chapter remains active in the local area. Over the years, their attention has shifted from war relief to aiding their local community. The chapter continues to sponsor swimming lessons, first aid training, and providing relief to those in emergencies. |
| Scope and Content | The American Red Cross, Tacoma-Pierce County chapter papers cover the years from 1898-1994. The collection is divided into twelve record series: Minutes, Financial Statements, Community Chest, Civilian Relief Committee, Home Service Section, Junior Red Cross, Red Cross Motor Corps, Publications, Publicity, Scrapbooks, Photographs, and Miscellaneous Items.
Minutes are arranged by date, 1898-1959. The minutes pertain to the decision-making process of the chapter, activities, duties, financial responsibilities, and resignations. Some records include financial statements.
Financial Statement are monthly statements from 1898-1941 with receipts intermixed.
Community Chest records cover the years 1925-1940. The local chapter received their budget each year from the Community Chest, which funded various local organizations. The records include correspondence about budget requests, the approved budget, and withdrawing from the chest.
Civilian Relief Committee records, 1917-1918, are records describing the assistance given to the local community by the chapter in the form of loans, allowances, and shelter.
Home Service Section, 1918-1938, are the records of the Civilian Relief Committee successor. The records describe the section's efforts in assisting veterans receive their pensions, honorable discharges and civilians with their finances. Included in the records are minutes of the committee discussing the status of emergency loans, allowances, and carfare.
Junior Red Cross records are a cash record from 1933-1938 showing the financial status of the group in Tacoma.
Red Cross Motor Corps records, 1940-1948 include correspondence and news articles pertaining to the activities and duties of the Red Cross Motor Corps throughout the war.
Publications, 1916-1981, are arranged alphabetically. These records are local, national, and international publications from various Red Cross chapters and the national office.
Publicity, 1917-1994, records are news articles pertaining to the activities of the Tacoma-Pierce County region.
Scrapbooks, 1939-1945, are books kept by the local chapter documenting some of their activities,such as the Gray Ladies and their prisoner of war efforts.
Photographs, 1940s-1990s, focus on the activities of the Red Cross during World War II,
convention booths, an auction. Some of the photographs and slides come from a notebook furnished by the national office. The majority of the photographs from World War II have captions.
Miscellaneous Items include a conference attendee folder, awards, event programs, and a Prisoner of War and Foreign Inquiry Service Notebook. |
| Inclusive Dates | 1898-1994, (Bulk 1916-1950); 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
| Restrictions | None |
| Volume | 6.25 linear feet or 4.75 linear feet |
| Accession number | 1997.75.1 |
| Num of Boxes | 5 |
| Electronic Publisher | Washington State Historical Society |
| Contributors | Washington State Historical Society |
| Object Type | text/pdf |
| Relation | http://research.washingtonhistory.org/collections/findingaids/arc_tacoma-pierce_county_papers_ms46.pdf |
| Rights | Property of the Washington State Historical Society – All Rights Reserved |
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