Grand Forks County Chapter of the American Red Cross Records, 1917-1980

Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Organizational Materials

The first series delineates the organizational structure of the Grand Forks County Chapter and includes correspondence, minutes of meetings, reports, membership and recognition lists, and pamphlets.

Box 1

Folder 1: History of the Grand Forks County Chapter of the American Red Cross in World War II, by Felix J. Vondracek, 1949.

Folder 2: Red Cross History Thumbnail Sketch and History of the Red Cross in Grand Forks County.

Folder 3: Grand Forks County Chapter of the American Red Cross, By-laws.

Folder 4: Statement of Understanding Between State of North Dakota and the American National Red Cross, 1935.

Folder 5: General Information Pamphlets of the American Red Cross.

Folder 6: Grand Forks Chapter Annual Reports, 1942-1948.

Folder 7: Grand Forks Chapter Annual Reports, 1948-1956.

Folder 8: Grand Forks Chapter Annual Reports, 1956-1980.

Folder 9: Minutes of Meetings, 1931-1939.

Folder 10: Minutes of Meetings, 1940-1944.

Folder 11: Minutes of Meetings, 1945-1949.

Folder 12: Minutes of Meetings, 1950-1955.

Folder 13: Minutes of Meetings, 1956-1959.

Folder 14: Minutes of Meetings, 1960-1963.

Folder 15: Minutes of Meetings, 1964-1966.

Folder 16: Minutes of Meetings, 1967-1969.

Folder 17: Chairman of Volunteers, 1949-1974.

Folder 18: Office of Volunteers, 1956-1969.

Folder 19: Volunteers - Lists of Names and Service Performed.

Folder 20: Volunteer Reports, 1963-1964.

Folder 21: Volunteers - Responsibilities and Functions

Folder 22: Committee Members, 1971-1973.

Folder 23: Volunteer Recognition Lists, 1950-1957.

Folder 24: Volunteer Recognition Lists, 1956-1975.

Folder 25: Volunteer Workshop Summaries - Recognition, Training.

Folder 26: Volunteer Uniforms, Insignia and Awards.

Folder 27: Correspondence - Thank You's.

Folder 28: Nursing Information - 1958 and 1968.

Folder 29: R. N. Information and "Organization and Function of the Chapter Nursing Service Committee".

Folder 30: Nurse Enrollment in the Grand Forks Chapter, 1965-1973.

Folder 31: Grand Forks County Registered Nurses, 1951, and undated.

Folder 32: Roster of Nurses Licensed for Active Practice in North Dakota, 1949.

Folder 33: Nursing and Health Programs Field Representative, 1971.

Box 6

Folder 1: Scrapbook

Includes the Charter Authorization Document from 1917 and meeting minutes from meetings, 1917-1926

Series 2: Projects

Series 2 chronicles various projects carried out by the Chapter: mother-baby care, swimming programs, first-aid programs, sewing and knitting production during the Second World War, Christmas boxes to soldiers, and ditty bags during the Vietnam War.  Many of the materials from the Vietnam War are projects undertaken by the Red Cross Youth, including the Write Hanoi project from 1970 to 1971.

Box 1

Folder 34: Nurse's Aide Service - 1943, 1945, 1953-1956.

Folder 35: Gray Lady Program - 1949-1960.

Folder 36: Staff Aide Service - 1948-1953.

Folder 37: Motor Service, Driver Education - 1956-1968.

Folder 38: Rural Fund Drive - 1958.

Folder 39: 75th Anniversary Materials for the American Red Cross - 1956.

Folder 40: War Production Orders - 1941-1954.

Folder 41: Christmas Boxes for Soldiers - 1945-1955.

Folder 42: Sewing Production - 1954-1966.

Folder 43: Knitting Production - 1956-1966.

Folder 44: Volunteers in Nursing Homes - 1959.

Folder 45: Benefit Card Party - 1960.

Folder 46: Christmas Ditty Bags for Vietnam Soldiers - 1966-1973.

Folder 47: Thank You Letters from Vietnam Soldiers - 1968-1970.

Box 2

Folder 1: Community Service - 1969-1971.

Folder 2: Mother and Baby Care - Grand Forks AFB - 1972.

Folder 3: First Aid Program and Correspondence - 1959-1960.

Folder 4: Rehabilitation Unit, Medical Center - 1966.

Folder 5: Valley Day Care Center - 1967-1969.

Folder 6: Special Education, Swimming - 1968-1972.

Folder 7: School Health Program

Folder 8: Migrant Program - 1969-1970.

Folder 9: Red Cross Youth Reports - 1967-1972.

Folder 10: Red Cross Youth Enrollment - 1970-1972.

Folder 11: Red Cross Youth Materials, Pamphlets - 1971.

Folder 12: Red Cross Youth Materials - 1974-1980.

Folder 13: Red Cross Youth, Friendship Kits to Vietnamese Children - 1969.

Folder 14: Red Cross Youth, Write to Hanoi Campaign - 1970.

Folder 15: Red Cross Youth, Write to Hanoi Campaign - 1970-1971.

Folder 16: Red Cross Youth Leadership Training Center - 1973.

Folder 17: Red Cross Youth Leadership Training Center - 1973-1974.

Folder 18: Volteen Members - 1971.

Folder 19: Red Cross Volunteers, Activities Report - 1955.

Folder 20: Red Cross Volunteers, Activities Report - 1962-1963.

Box 6

Folder 2: Hospital kit for convalescents injured in action; provided by the USO during World War II

Folder consists of miscellaneous pamphlets

Item 1: "Think On These Things: Sources of Courage, Hope, and Faith For Those Serving Their County." 1943

Item 2: "A Road to Recovery." by Chaplain Robert Rasche.

Item 3: "Howl While You Heal." by S/Sgt. Abraham Jaffee. 1945

Item 4: Handbook for Halloran General Hospital, Staten Island, New York. 1945

Item 5: "Fun En Route: For Our Armed Forces." Hospital Edition. National Recreation Association. 1944

Item 6: "Special Orders for German-American Relations." by Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley (4 page pamphlet)

Folder 3: American Red Cross information concerning World War II Prisoners of War, 1944-1945

Series 3: Disaster Relief

The third series documents the chapter's efforts at disaster relief from 1943 to 1966. Included are records relating to major floods in 1943, 1947, 1948, 1950, and 1966, as well as several major fires. These records include application cards and interview reports of those people who requested aid, disbursement orders and canceled checks for those relief items approved by the Chapter.  The records also document the Chapter's participation in relief after the 1957 Fargo tornado.

Box 2

Folder 21: Red Cross Volunteers, Activities Report - 1962-1963.

Folder 22: Disaster Relief, General Information Pamphlets.

Folder 23: Disaster Relief and Precautions, Publicity.

Folder 24: Entertainment and Supply Service - 1948.

Folder 25: Disaster Training - 1954.

Folder 26: Handbook for Physicians and Nurses, Preparedness and Relief - 1952.

Folder 27: Mass Feeding - 1965-1966.

Folder 28: Polio Emergency Workers - 1953.

Folder 29: Fargo Tornado Relief - 1957.

Folder 30: Chilean Disaster Relief - 1960.

Folder 31: Chilean Disaster Project - 1960.

Folder 32: Civilian Defense - 1953-1958.

Folder 33: Grand Forks County Flood - 1943.

Folder 34: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1943 - Last Names, A-B.

Folder 35: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1943 - Last Names, C-J.

Folder 36: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1943 - Last Names, K-R.

Folder 37: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1943 - Last Names, S-W.

Folder 38: Disaster Flood Relief Totals - 1945-1946.

Folder 39: Grand Forks County Flood - 1947.

Folder 40: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1947 - Last Names, A-B.

Folder 41: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1947 - Last Names, C-F.

Folder 42: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1947 - Last Names, G-H.

Folder 43: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1947 - Last Names, J- L.

Folder 44: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1947 - Last Names, M-O.

Folder 45: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1947 - Last Names, P-T.

Folder 46: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1947 - Last Names, W-Z.

Folder 47: Record of Disbursement Orders - 1947 Flood.

Folder 48: Voided Disbursement Orders - 1947 Flood.

Folder 49: Advise of Award Records - 1947 Flood.

Box 3

Folder 1: Flood Emergency Information - 1948.

Folder 2: Grand Forks County Flood - 1948.

Folder 3: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1948 - Last Names, A-B.

Folder 4: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1948 - Last Names, G-H.

Folder 5: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1948 - Last Names, J-L.

Folder 6: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1948 - Last Names, M-R.

Folder 7: Disaster Fact Sheets, Flood 1948 - Last Names, S-W.

Folder 8: Grand Forks County Flood Disaster Relief - 1950.

Folder 9: Flood Relief, River Level Readings - 1950.

Folder 10: Application Cards for Flood Disaster Relief

Folder 11: Telephone Inquiry Cards, 1950 Flood.

Folder 12: Canceled Checks for Flood Relief - 1950.

Folder 13: Correspondence, Flood Relief - 1950.

Folder 14: Correspondence, Flood Relief - 1950.

Folder 15: Disbursing Orders for Flood Relief - 1950.

Folder 16: Application Cards for Flood Disaster Relief - 1951.

Folder 17: Application Cards and Relief Reports for Flood Relief - 1952.

Folder 18: Flood Disaster Relief - 1954.

Folder 19: East Grand Forks Flood Relief - 1962.

Folder 20: East Grand Forks Flood Relief Case Records - 1962.

Folder 21: Red River Valley Flood Threat - 1966.

Folder 22: Dispatcher Instructions for Motile Canteen - Flood 1966.

Folder 23: County Poor Farm Fire, Arvilla - 1940.

Folder 24: Anderson Fire, Grand Forks - 1949.

Folder 25: Berry Fire, Grand Forks - 1949.

Folder 26: Hagen Fire, Grand Forks - 1949.

Folder 27: Haist Fire, Grand Forks - 1949.

Folder 28: Nulu Fire, Grand Forks - 1949.

Folder 29: Schuman Fire, Grand Forks - 1949.

Folder 30: Fire Disaster Relief - 1955-1958.

Folder 31: Schultz Fire, Grand Forks - 1961.

Folder 32: McDonald Fire, Inkster - 1962.

Folder 33: East Grand Forks Fire Disaster Relief - 1962.

Folder 34: East Grand Forks Fire, Dooley - 1962.

Folder 35: East Grand Forks Fire, Johnston - 1962.

Folder 36: East Grand Forks Fire, Murdock - 1962.

Folder 37: East Grand Forks Fire, Reed - 1962.

Folder 38: East Grand Forks Fire, Williams - 1962.

Folder 39: Caste Fire, Emerado - 1965.

Folder 40: Home Gas Explosion, Palmer Ellingson Family Relief Fund - 1953.

Folder 41: Financial - Contracts - 1943.

Folder 42: Financial - Disbursing Orders - Flood 1943.

Folder 43: Financial - Canceled Checks - Flood 1943.

Folder 44: Financial - Disbursing Orders - Flood 1943.

Folder 45: Financial - Commitment Record - Flood 1947.

Folder 46: Financial - Check Stubs - Flood 1947.

Folder 47: Financial - Disbursing Orders - Flood 1947.

Folder 48: Financial - Disbursing Orders - Flood 1947.

Folder 49: Financial - Disbursement Record - Flood 1948.

Folder 50: Financial - Disbursing Orders - Flood 1948.

Folder 51: Financial - Disbursing Orders - Flood 1948.

Folder 52: Financial - Disbursing Orders - Flood 1948.

Folder 53: Financial - Disbursing Orders - Flood 1948.

Series 4: Supplemental Security Income Program

The Grand Forks County Chapter was very involved with the Supplemental Security Income Program, a 1974 government program that provided aid to low-income people who are either aged (65 or older), blind, or disabled.  The Chapter made a concerted effort to identify those persons in Grand Forks and surrounding counties who were eligible for SSI benefits.

Box 4

Folder 1: Supplemental Security Income Alert - 1974.

Folder 2: SSI Weekly Reports - 1974.

Folder 3: Final Report for STE Alert - 1974.

Folder 4: SSI Correspondence - 1974.

Folder 5: SSI Invoices - 1974.

Folder 6: SSI Referrals - 1974.

Folder 7: SSI Alert Returns - 1974.

Folder 8: SSI Volunteer Lists and Time Cards - 1974.

Folder 9: SSI Volunteer Training Kit - 1974.

Folder 10: SSI Forms - 1974.

Folder 11: SSI Correspondence, Grand Forks County - 1974.

Folder 12: SSI Correspondence, Griggs County - 1974.

Folder 13: SSI Correspondence, Mahnomen County - 1974.

Folder 14: SSI Correspondence - Marshall County - 1974.

Folder 15: SSI Correspondence - Kittson County - 1974.

Folder 16: SSI Correspondence - Nelson County - 1974,

Folder 17: SSI Correspondence - Norman County - 1974.

Folder 18: SSI Correspondence - Pembina-Cavalier County - 1974.

Folder 19: SSI Correspondence - Pennington County - 1974.

Folder 20: SSI Correspondence - Polk-Red Lake County - 1974.

Folder 21: SSI Correspondence - Roseau County - 1974.

Folder 22: SSI Correspondence - Steel County - 1974.

Folder 23: SSI Correspondence - Trail County - 1974.

Folder 24: SSI Correspondence - Walsh County - 1974.

Series 5: Photographs

Separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets.

Photograph 1: Jane A. Delano, WWI Director of Red Cross Nursing Service

Photograph 2: Jane A. Delano, WWI Director of Red Cross Nursing Service

Photograph 3: Unidentified Worker at a Sewing Machine

Photograph 4: Mrs. Nancy Zey

Photograph 5: Unidentified Workers Donning Head Covering

Photograph 6: Red Cross Float in Parade, Undated

Photograph 7: County War Fund Workers, 4/12/47

Photograph 8: Walsh County Work Production Group

Photograph 9: Unidentified

Photograph 10: Instruction Class

Photograph 11: Instruction Class

Photograph 12: Kathryn Lemertz

Photograph 13: Unidentified

Photograph 14: Mrs. Henry Ruud

Photograph 15: Mrs. Bea Mayer, Mrs. Luella Mayer

Photograph 16: Mrs. S.H. Booth

Photograph 17: Unidentified

Photograph 18: Junior Red Cross Workshop, Lake Forest, Illinois, August 17-21, 1952; Miss Florence Rasmusson

Photograph 19: Mary Boley, Millie Jensen

Photograph 20: Mary Boley, Millie Jensen

Photograph 21: Ethel Smith, GFAFB, 8/18/65

Photograph 22: Unidentified

Photograph 23: Unidentified

Photograph 24: Mrs. Barney, Mrs. Harold Hogle, GFAFB, 1960

Photograph 25: Unidentified

Photograph 26: Michal Clark, Jamestown, Governor Arthur Link, Phyllis Connolly, Dunn Center, ND

Photograph 27: Mrs. Charles Christianson, Mrs. Raymond Gehrig, George R. Meyer, Field Director

Photograph 28: First Aid Instructor's Course

Photograph 29: Maybelle Moore, 1979 Flood, Valley Junior High

Photograph 30: Sally Neumann, Junior Red Cross Training Center, Custer, SD, 7/26/48

Photograph 31: Geneva, WWII, Food and Clothing Stockpiles

Photograph 32: 1955 Floods, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut

Photograph 33: 1955 Floods, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut

Photograph 34: 1955 Floods, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut

Photograph 35: 1955 Floods, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut

Photograph 36: 1955 Floods, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut

Photograph 37: 1955 Floods, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut

Photograph 38: 1955 Floods, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut

Photograph 39: 1955 Floods, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut

Photograph 40: Slide of Norby's Window miring 1955 Fund Drive

Photograph 41: Church Group at Holmes, 1960, Howard Mereness, First Aid Class

Photograph 42: Church Group at Holmes, 1960, Howard Mereness, First Aid Class

Photograph 43: Church Group at Holmes, 1960, Howard Mereness, First Aid Class

Photograph 44: Church Group at Holmes, 1960, Howard Mereness, First Aid Class

Photograph 45: Church Group at Holmes, 1960, Howard Mereness, First Aid Class

Photograph 46: Church Group at Holmes, 1960, Howard Mereness, First Aid Class

Photograph 47: Church Group at Holmes, 1960, Howard Mereness, First Aid Class

Photograph 48: GFAFB, 8/26/65, Melvin G. Geiser, Field Director with Base Representatives

Photograph 49: Distributing Friendship Bags in Vietnam

Photograph 50: Distributing Friendship Bags in Vietnam

Photograph 51: Distributing Friendship Bags in Vietnam

Photograph 52: Distributing Friendship Bags in Vietnam

Photograph 53: Distributing Friendship Bags in Vietnam

Photograph 54: Distributing Friendship Bags in Vietnam

Photograph 55: Distributing Friendship Bags in Vietnam

Photograph 56: Distributing Friendship Bags in Vietnam

Photograph 57: Distributing Friendship Bags in Vietnam

Photograph 58: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 59: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 60: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 61: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 62: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 63: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 64: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 65: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 66: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 67: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 68: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 69: Grand Forks Flood Relief, 1966

Photograph 70: GFAFB, 8/18/65, Pre-school Physicals

Photograph 71: Capping Ceremony, 1967

Photograph 72: Capping Ceremony, 1967

Photograph 73: Capping Ceremony, 1967

Photograph 74: Capping Ceremony, 1967

Photograph 75: Capping Ceremony, 1967

Photograph 76: Relief After Hurricane Betsy, September 1965

Photograph 77: Relief After Hurricane Betsy, September 1965

Photograph 78: Relief After Hurricane Betsy, September 1965

Photograph 79: Philip Schenkenberg, 1962 Manager Red Cross Mid-West Area

Photograph 80: James I. Nicholson

Photograph 81: Unloading Red Cross Van, Undated

Series 6: Miscellaneous

Box 4

Folder 25: News Clippings - Surgical Dressings and Floods - 1943-1946.

Folder 26: News Clippings - War Fund Drive - 1944-1946.

Folder 27: News Clippings - Activities: Canteen, Recreation, Production, Home Service, etc. - 1940-1947.

Folder 28: News Clippings - Flood 1950.

Folder 29: News Clippings - Flood 1950.

Folder 30: News Clippings - General Activities - 1951-1952.

Folder 31: News Clippings - Blood Donor Enrollment - 1953.

Folder 32: News Clippings - Flood 1966.

Folder 33: News Clippings - Miscellaneous, 1968.

Folder 34: News Clippings - Miscellaneous

Folder 35: Financial - Annual Audits - 1943-1953.

Folder 36: Financial - Annual Audits - 1954-1958.

Folder 37: Financial - Operating Expenses and Proposed Budgets - 1957-1964.

Folder 38: Financial - Miscellaneous.

Folder 39: Financial - Summary of Chapter Income and Expenditures - 1971-1972.

Folder 40: Financial - Summary of Chapter income and Expenditures - 1973-1974.

Folder 41: Award Certificates - 1939, 1946, 1950.

Box 5

Scrapbook 1: Newspaper Clippings, 1938-1945

Scrapbook 2: Newspaper Clippings, 1944-1945

Scrapbook 3: Newspaper Clippings, 1947-1952

Scrapbook 4: Newspaper Clippings, 1951-1958

Box 6

Scrapbook 1: Newspaper Clippings, 1957-1960

Scrapbook 2: Newspaper Clippings, 1961-1965

Scrapbook 3: Newspaper Clippings, 1965-1971

Oversize Folder 1: Flood Control Map, 1944; Data for Grand Forks County, University USGS River Gages, 1944

Separated and placed in the Oversize File Cabinets.