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

Grand Forks County Chapter of the American Red Cross Records

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Collection Overview

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

ID: OGLMC1058

Primary Creator: American Red Cross, Grand Forks County Chapter (1898-)

Extent: 11.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/1985. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Health and Medicine, Military History

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Grand Forks County Chapter of the American Red Cross Records, 1917-1980, have been divided into six series:

Series 1: Organizational Materials

Series 2: Projects

Series 3: Disaster Relief

Series 4: Supplemental Security Income Program

Series 5: Photographs

Series 6: Miscellaneous

Collection Historical Note

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was created in Geneva, Switzerland, in October 1863 to provide nonpartisan care to the wounded and sick in times of war. The founding of the American Red Cross in 1881 was largely due to the dedication of Clara Barton. Today, the organization's actions, guided by its dedication to humanity and a desire to promote mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation, and lasting peace amongst all peoples, follow these fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The Grand Forks County Chapter of the American Red Cross originated with the "Grand Forks Red Cross Society." The Society was organized at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on July 6, 1898, in response to the need for local Red Cross groups in the wake of the Spanish-American War. The Society sent money, medical bandages, and magazines to American soldiers fighting in Cuba and the Philippines. The Society remained active until the return of the First North Dakota Infantry from the Philippines in September 1899.

The entry of the United States into the First World War necessitated the resurrection of the local chapter. In March 1917, the director of the Mountain Division of the Red Cross authorized the formation of the Grand Forks County Chapter of the American Red Cross. The first meeting of the group occurred on April 23, 1917, at City Hall. A membership committee was formed, which immediately began a systematic membership drive. By June of that year, over 2,400 members were enrolled. By the end of the war, $138,000 had been raised by over 8,500 members. Satellite branches had been established in 34 smaller towns on both sides of the state border. The Home Service Section helped over 25,000 families, while the Hospital Supply Committee gathered over five tons of clothing.

During the time between the First and Second World Wars, much of the efforts of the Grand Forks County Chapter were taken up with disaster relief. Drought victims in Western North Dakota, flood victims in Colorado, and earthquake victims in Japan were among those who received aid from Grand Forks.

By the start of World War II in 1939, only four of the original 34 local branches were still active. By 1944, even these four branches were closed. By the County Chapter had taken up Red Cross efforts throughout all of the Grand Forks County. Local Red Cross activities during World War II included the recruitment and training of nurses for the armed forces, in addition to the replacement of those local nurses who were in the service. The group also trained members of the Civil Defense Corps, raised funds for prisoner of war food parcels, shipped books, magazines, and recreational supplies to military bases and camps, and taught first aid and lifesaving classes.

The County Chapter continued its support of American soldiers during the Vietnam War. "Ditty bags" were sent to servicemen and servicewomen overseas, and the Red Cross Youth sent friendship bags to Vietnamese children. The Write Hanoi project was undertaken in 1970-71, which requested that American Prisoners of War be treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

Historically, the Red Cross has been especially helpful to residents of Grand Forks County and surrounding areas in times of flooding. The Red Cross has provided financial help, shelter, food, and clothing to those effected by flooding, at several different times during the twentieth century. The Red Cross has also brought in volunteers from outside the area to help fight floods.

Subject/Index Terms

Health and Medicine
Military History

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Additional materials were received from Mason Hollifield, Grand Forks County Chapter of the American Red Cross, on October 2, 1989 (89-1676) and from Dean Hermannson of UND Lake Region in September 1994 (94-1993).

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Acquisition Source: Grand Forks County Chapter, American Red Cross

Acquisition Method: Donation; 86-1446

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Grand Forks County Chapter of the American Red Cross Records. OGLMC 1058, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in August 2015.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Organizational Materials],
[Series 2: Projects],
[Series 3: Disaster Relief],
[Series 4: Supplemental Security Income Program],
[Series 5: Photographs],
[Series 6: Miscellaneous],
[All]

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.

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids