Title: American Red Cross. Oshkosh Chapter (Wis.): American Red Cross Oshkosh Chapter Records
Inclusive Dates: 1916-2006

Creator:

• American Red Cross. Oshkosh Chapter (Wis.)

Call Number: Oshkosh Mss DG; PH Oshkosh Mss DG

Quantity: 9.2 cubic feet (2 archives boxes and 14 flat boxes) and 0.6 cubic feet of photographs (1 flat box)

Repository:

Housed at the Archives & Area Research Center, Polk Library, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

UW-Oshkosh Polk Library / Oshkosh Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Records of the Oshkosh Chapter of the American Red Cross, a group founded in 1916 to provide community disaster relief and services to soldiers and veterans. The records are comprised mainly of scrapbooks of newspaper clippings dated between 1943 and 2006. Also included are annual reports, financial statements, photographs, World War II nurse recruitment records, radio broadcast transcripts and correspondence between Oshkosh chapter chairman and officers. Also of note is a scrapbook of Phan Rang Air Force Base (AFB), presented to students of Oshkosh High Schools and the Oshkosh Chapter by Red Cross volunteers stationed in Vietnam providing support to U.S. troops. The scrapbook documents the recreational life of the base.

Note:

There is a restriction on access to this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-osh00dg

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The Oshkosh chapter of the American Red Cross was established in 1916 with Mr. Elbert Weed as the first chairman. The jurisdiction of the chapter originally included all of Winnebago County except the cities Neenah and Menasha, which were served by their own chapter. Numerous branches of the Oshkosh chapter were soon formed in rural communities across the county. Later, northern towns of Winnebago County (Neenah, Menasha, Clayton, and parts of Vinland and Winchester) were conceded to the Neenah-Menasha Chapter. Over time, the jurisdiction grew to include Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara counties.

The International Red Cross was founded in Geneva in 1864. In 1881 the American National Association was incorporated with Clara Barton, a former Civil War nurse, as president. In 1900, the organization was reincorporated by act of Congress as the American Red Cross. Then in 1905 it was approved by President Theodore Roosevelt as the official national disaster agency.

Six months after the Oshkosh Chapter was organized, the United States entered World War I, requiring the group to help meet the needs of servicemen and victims of the war. Run almost exclusively by women, most officers were wives of prominent industrialists in the county including Mesdames Osborn, Hicks, Pierce, Radford and others. During the war, the chapter had numerous committees to coordinate its activities in providing clothing, bandages, and comfort to soldiers, their families, and war refugees. The organization also worked to provide support during the Spanish Influenza outbreak in the County. After the war, the group reorganized as it transitioned to helping disabled soldiers and county nursing work as well as raising funds for disasters across the country. During the depression, the organization was in charge of relief distribution, delivering bedding and flour and making clothing for the poor. During World War II, the organization returned to making bandages, surgical dressings, and clothing for American soldiers and European war relief, as well as organizing blood drives and providing back-up service at area hospitals through its Grey Lady Corps and Nurses' Aid organization. After the War, the Red Cross again transitioned to peace time activities of supporting veterans, organizing blood drives and helping in disasters. The Oshkosh Chapter also provided courses in first aid, nurses' aid training and water safety. The bulk of these activities continue today, in addition to other programs, including winter heating assistance and elderly engagement. In 1998, the Oshkosh Chapter, in recognition of its broader jurisdiction changed its name to the East Central Wisconsin Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The bulk of the records of the Oshkosh Chapter consist of scrapbooks. Earlier books contain some non-newspaper content, including letters and ephemera. Later books are made up almost exclusively of local newspaper clippings, documenting local or national Red Cross activities.

Included is a binder of 177 photographs and 5 slides documenting the Oshkosh Chapter's activities, including meetings, blood drives, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) trainings, award ceremonies, disaster relief efforts, and social functions. The majority of the photographs are undated and unidentified. Sporadic photos, however, do include dates from 1941 to 2007 and some captions are included.

Acquisition Information

Presented by the American Red Cross of Northeast Wisconsin via Steve Hansen, 2012. Accession Number: M2014-137

Access Restrictions

COLLECTION STORED, ALL or IN-PART, AT ARC: Collection can be requested for transfer through the Area Research Center (ARC) Network; consult Reading Room Staff.

Oshkosh Mss DG Box   1 Folder   1	History, 1916-1966
Box   1 Folder   2	By-laws, 1943-1950
Box   1 Folder   3-4	Annual reports, 1943-2003
Box   1 Folder   5-6	Financial statements, 1957-1986
Box   1 Folder   7	Newsletters, 1957-2006
	Correspondence
Box   2 Folder   1-3	General, 1918, 1942-1969
Box   2 Folder   5-6	General, 1970-1989, 2004
Box   2 Folder   4	50th anniversary, 1966
Box   2 Folder   7	Relief activities, 1932-1934, 1941-1944
Box   2 Folder   8	Annual meeting and volunteer recognition, 1945-1989
Box   2 Folder   9	WWII nurse recruitment, 1943-1945
Box   2 Folder   10	Radio scripts, WWII blood drive, 1945
Box   2 Folder   11	Promotion guidelines, 1948
Box   2 Folder   12	Clippings, 1951
Box   2 Folder   13	Tornado damage, Oshkosh, 1974
Box   2 Folder   14	Miscellaneous, 1945- 1991
Box   2 Folder   15	Area local chapters, 1967, 1992
Box   2 Folder   16	Closing of Alexian Brothers Home, Oshkosh Chapter, 1965
	Scrapbooks
Box   3 Folder   1	1918
Box   3 Folder   2	1939
Box   4 Folder   3-4	1940-1944
Box   5 Folder   5-6	1945-1953
Box   6 Folder   7-8	1952-1955
Box   7 Folder   9-11	1955-1959
Box   8 Folder   12-13	1959-1965
Box   9 Folder   14	1965-1970
Box   10 Folder   15	1971-1978
Box   11 Folder   16-17	1978-1987
Box   12 Folder   18	1998-2001, 2006
Box   13 Folder   19-20	2001-2002
Box   14 Folder   21-22	2001-2004
Box   15 Folder   23	2003-2005
Box   15 Folder   24	Green Lake County, 1974, 1976, 1983, 1986-1990, 2004
Box   16 Folder   27	Phan Rang Air Base
	Ledgers
Box   16 Folder   25	Financial transactions, 1918-1922
Box   16 Folder   26	Volunteer totals and field dressing production, 1943-1944
PH Oshkosh Mss DG Box   1 Volume   1	Photographs, 1941-2007