Title: American Red Cross. Dunn County Chapter: Records
Inclusive Dates: 1917-1979

Creator:

• American Red Cross. Dunn County Chapter (Wis.)

Call Number: Stout Mss U

Quantity: 1.0 c.f. (3 archives boxes)

Repository:

Housed at the University Archives and Area Research Center, Library Learning Center, University of Wisconsin-Stout; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

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

UW-Stout Library Learning Ctr. / Stout Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Records of a group founded in 1917 to provide community disaster relief and services to soldiers and veterans. The records include correspondence, a history, minutes, reports of the executive secretary, scattered financial records, records on area veterans, and records on activities of the chapter, largely newspaper accounts of disasters and Red Cross relief work. The activity records also include a few reports on national conventions; papers from campaigns to support soldiers, locate blood donors and volunteers, and enroll nurses; a list of federal relief supplies distributed to town chairmen during the Depression; clippings on 1930 and 1958 tornado relief efforts; 1931 drought relief records; and a few photographs. Veterans' records were compiled from official sources and list mainly Dunn County and area soldiers, with addresses, next of kin, date of enlistment or discharge, cause of death, and other information.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-stou000u

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The American Red Cross had its origins in the United States Sanitary Commission, organized to carry out relief programs for soldiers during the Civil War. The first and second Geneva Conventions in 1863 and 1864 led directly to the formation of the International Red Cross. The founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, established the group's focus on disaster relief, as well as war service during the Spanish-American War. A congressional charter was granted in 1905. Under the leadership of Mabel Boardman, the Red Cross organized its programs to use trained volunteers and modern social work methods. During World War I, the Red Cross became a national organization with chapters formed in many locations. Volunteers produced millions of surgical dressings, bandages, garments, and supplies for hospitals, soldiers, and civilian refugees overseas. In 1917, the American Junior Red Cross was founded. During World War II, Red Cross workers served throughout the world, organizing and conducting the first blood drives, and packing food and medical parcels for prisoners of war.

Today, Red Cross disaster programs encompass three phases: community preparedness, post-disaster emergency relief, and long-term rehabilitation assistance. These include efforts to collect blood and coordinate civilian blood banks; home nursing services; and first aid, life saving, and water safety instruction. The organization also continues to provide medical, recreational, and welfare services to the armed forces and military hospitals.

At a meeting March 2, 1917, the first Red Cross group in Dunn County was formed as the Menomonie Chapter, with 47 charter members. An additional 153 members were soon added. In July 1917, the name of the organization was changed to Dunn County Chapter, to reflect its larger membership area. Among the Chapter's first projects were disaster relief assistance to the people of Mattoon and Charleston, Illinois, and conducting membership and “War Fund” drives. By January 1918, the chapter had 4,952 members who contributed to the war and disaster relief funds and nursed patients during the influenza epidemic of 1918. During World War I, 35 "branches" of the Dunn County chapter were formed to carry out war relief work. Rachel Dietrichson became the first Dunn County nurse on October 11, 1920; she was employed to examine school children and monitor their care. Throughout the years, disaster relief has included aid for victims of tornadoes in 1921, 1930, and 1958; and for flood victims in 1934 and 1938. During World War II, fundraising, refugee aid, surgical dressing preparation, and other war relief work was conducted. In 1949, the first civilian Red Cross blood program was begun, and is now conducted through the St. Paul (Minnesota) Regional Center. Other programs include services to military families, nursing programs, safety instruction, and youth programs. In 1955, Marion Ingalls resigned after serving as the Chapter's executive secretary since 1918; she was succeeded by Margaret Kent.

The records of the Dunn County Chapter of the American Red Cross have been arranged in two series: General Records and Veterans' Records. Within the GENERAL RECORDS are a small file of correspondence; a history, correspondence, skit (or script), and other memorabilia prepared for the Chapter's 50th anniversary in 1967, minutes of annual and board of directors meetings, an incomplete file of reports of the executive secretary, and financial records comprised of statements, annual reports, receipts and disbursements, and cash transactions. There are also files recording the activities of the chapter, largely through newspaper accounts of disasters and Red Cross relief work. Also included are general papers concerning all types of chapter work, with reports on national conventions; records of campaigns to support soldiers, locate blood donors and volunteers, and enroll nurses; and a list of federal relief supplies distributed to town chairmen during the Depression. There are also general newsclippings, a notebook listing the names of those who sewed surgical dressings during World War I, clippings recording the 1930 and 1958 tornado relief efforts, 1931 drought relief records, blood bank clippings, and a few miscellaneous photographs.

The VETERANS' RECORDS were compiled from official sources by Red Cross member Ada Hosford and others, mainly in 1949. They appear to have served a recordkeeping function and were probably used for veterans' relief work. These records list mainly Dunn County and area soldiers, with addresses, next of kin, date of enlistment or discharge, cause of death and other information.

Acquisition Information

Presented by the American Red Cross, Dunn County Chapter, via Lillian Buckly, Menomonie, Wisconsin, 1981. Accession Number: M81-574

Processing Information

Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, 1986; and by Socorro Pomales, 1983.

	Series: General Records
Box   1 Folder   1	History, 1967; and Organizational Chart, , undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Dunn County Chapter's 50th Anniversary, July 1967
Box   1 Folder   3	Lists of Red Cross Branches in Dunn County; Lists of Charter Members, Officers, and Members, 1917-1949
	Minutes and Reports
Box   1 Folder   4	Annual Meetings, October 1917-November 1954
Box   1 Folder   5	Reports of the Executive Secretary, March 1917-August 1963
Box   1 Folder   6-7	Board of Directors Meetings, March 1917-December 1966
Box   1 Folder   8	Correspondence, December 1917-December 1961
Box   1 Folder   9	Financial Records, March 1917-July 1947
	Records of Activities
Box   2 Folder   1-2	General Papers and Clippings, November 1917-1979, undated
Box   2 Folder   3	Surgical Dressing Report, 1918-1944
Box   2 Folder   4	Clippings re: Tornado Relief, 1930
Box   2 Folder   5	Drought Relief, 1931
Box   2 Folder   6	Miscellaneous Photographs, 1957-1972
Box   2 Folder   7	Clippings re: Tornado Relief, 1958
Box   2 Folder   8	Clippings re: Blood Bank, 1964
	Series: Veterans' Records	⇧
Box   2 Folder   9	Civil War Veterans
Box   2 Folder   10	Spanish-American War Veterans
Box   2 Folder   11	World War I Veterans
Box   3 Folder   1	Active Servicemen, 1939-1955
Box   3 Folder   2	Selective Service Lists, 1941-1955
Box   3 Folder   3	Lists of World War II Soldiers Killed in Action and Buried Overseas