AMERICAN RED CROSS DUBUQUE COUNTY CHAPTER

AMERICAN RED CROSS DUBUQUE COUNTY CHAPTER. The American Red Cross was established in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881, by Clara Barton, its first president. The first local chapter was established in 1881 at the English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dansville, New York.

The Red Cross is a nationwide network of 264 chapters and 36 blood service regions. Approximately 166,000 Red Cross volunteers, including FemaCorps and AmeriCorps members, and 30,000 employees annually mobilize relief to people affected by more than 67,000 disasters, train almost 4 million people in necessary medical skills and exchange more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their family members. (1)

ARC is the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the US, supplying 2,600 hospitals (approximately 39% of the US blood supply). The charity also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts worldwide, connecting separated family members. In 2006, the organization had over $6 billion in total revenues, though revenues have fallen since Katrina. At that time, revenue from blood and blood products alone was over $2 billion - biological services generally represents about 63% of total operating expenses, though the unit often operates at a deficit. (2)

The Red Cross provided communication and assistance to military members and their families. This was mandated by the military because the Red Cross provides independent verification. The organization also provided disaster relief; education about first aid, CPR and disaster preparedness; and blood services. (3)

Beginning with the CIVIL WAR, the United States had a Red Cross Society. According to the Geneva Convention of 1864 signed by forty-four countries, the Red Cross flag, a Geneva Red Cross on a white band, signaled neutrality and was not to be fired upon. All wounded were treated equallyIt fell into disrepute because of its inability to report is financial condition and died. In 1904 Congress granted a new charter to the American Red Cross Society with regulations to prevent the mistakes of the past being repeated. William Howard Taft, later President of the United States, was one of its incorporators and also its first president. State organizations, organized by Mabel Boardman, were backed by district organizations with annual dues of one dollar. Life membership cost $25.00. The entire organization was under the supervision of the War Department. (4)

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

In 1910 the sale of Red Cross Stamps nationwide provided for tuberculosis dispensaries, services of visiting nurses, day camps, and the printing of literature and lobbying of legislative, municipal and counties authorities. (5)

In 1917 the Red Cross was active in Dubuque as the United States entered WORLD WAR I. In April of that year "Preparation of Surgical Dressings," a course of eight lessons each three hours long, was presented at the Red Cross Shop at 9th and Main. The class was given for anyone wishing to obtain a certificate to be a nurse's aid. There was no fee, but participants had to be a Red Cross member. Other news included socks made for the GOVERNOR'S GREYS were sold to them for fifteen cents--a ten cent savings over others available to them. (6)

Membership campaigns stressed the humanitarian work of the organization and that it was not charity.

   Red Cross Subscribers are not expected to go to 
   the war front; not do they assume any financial 
   obligation other than the payment of their 
                               subscription. (7)

The Dubuque Banks through the DUBUQUE CLEARING HOUSE ASSOCIATION sponsored an advertisement proclaiming: Dubuque County Wants 30,000 members---It Now Has 4,000 Members. (8) President Woodrow Wilson issued a Christmas Proclamation stating

                 ...Our consciences will not let us enjoy the
                 Christmas Season if this pledge of support to
                 our cause and the world's weal is left
                 unfulfilled. Red Cross Membership is the
                 Christmas spirit in terms of action. (9)

The Red Cross officials publicized a list of items for a Red Cross package destined to soldiers on the front. Each package included a blue knife, chocolate or hard sugar candy, bandana or khaki handkerchief, envelopes, cigarettes, pipe and tobacco, pad of paper, pencil, playing cards and a Christmas card. (10)

As the war effort came to an end, one Dubuque woman made history. Mrs. W. R. Smith won the first Red Cross Service Badge showing her 4800 hours of service to the organization. Making the honor even more special to local officials was the fact that the recipient was eighty years old. In the early years of American participation, she prepared surgical dressings often taking materials home to work on in the evenings. She later was one of the first teachers in the "knitting department." (11)

Campaigns for membership and drives for donations continued as the reminder was made that the Red Cross was one of the largest relief organizations in the world. In 1919 the American Legion was certain of obtaining 10,000 members in Dubuque for the Red Cross. A house-to-house canvas was expected to raise $10,000 of which %5,000 would remain in Dubuque. This would fund financial aid to the families of service men and the work of the Home Service Section of the organization involved in relief efforts. (12)

In 2017 with the United States military involved in many operations around the world, the Red Cross Northeast Iowa Chapter provided emergency communications, support and referrals to 910 military service members and their families. (13) The same year Dubuque resident Marty Schiessl was recognized as the first Iowa Red Cross volunteer to work in areas affected by both hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Of the 6,000 Red Cross volunteers working on one or the disaster area, seventy-five were from Iowa. (14) Volunteers had to commit to spending at least two weeks in the field, pass a background check, and be willing to work 10-hour days. The Red Cross paid travel and shelter expenses. Opportunities were also available in the immediate area. (15)

The fourteenth annual Everyday Heroes Breakfast of the American Red Cross of Northeast Iowa was held on March. Among those honored were people who helped evacuate a burning college residence hall, a person who began a winter clothing distribution project in Decorah, a person who responded to a man pinned under a car by jacking it up, and two men who provided life-saving measures for a motorist on Dodge Street, a former teacher who continues to volunteer, and a man who freed his neighbor from beneath a tractor. (16)

The 1966 Dubuque City Directory listed 421 Stampfer Building.

The 1987 Dubuque City Directory listed 1200 Main.

The 1989 through 2014 Dubuque City Directory listed 2400 Asbury Road.

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Source:

1. "American Red Cross," Wikipedia, Online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Red_Cross

2. Ibid.

3. Hogstrom, Erik, "Red Cross Keeps Connection Between Families, Military," Telegraph Herald, August 13 2013, p. 3

4. "The Red Cross and Its Work," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, September 1, 1905, p. 6

5. "What the Little Seals Are Doing," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, December 9, 1910, p. 23

6. "Red Cross Notes," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald April 29, 1917, p. 11

7. "Do Your Bit Now Subscribe to the Red Cross," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 24, 1917, p. 15

8. "Are You a Member of the Red Cross?" Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, December 19, 1917, p. 19

9. "President Wlson's Red Cross Christmas Proclamation," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, December 21, 1917, p. 26

10. "Red Cross Prepares to Send Soldiers a Merry Christmas," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, November 9, 1917, p. 17

11. "Red Cross Badge to Woman of 80," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, January 21, 1919, p. 7

12. "Legion Seeks to Make Record For Dubuque in Campaign for Memberships in Red Cross," The Telegraph-Herald, November 9, 1919, p. 1

13. "Where Community Counts," Telegraph Herald, May 4, 2017, p. 64

14. Montgomery, Jeff, "Double Duty for Dubuque Volunteer," Telegraph Herald, September 15, 2017, p. 1

15. Rezab, Matthew, "Red Cross Helps Those Who Want to Help Others," Telegraph Herald, September 9, 2017, p. 3

15. Hogstrom, Erik, "Red Cross Celebrates Heroes," Telegraph Herald, March 17, 2017, p. 1