"PRACTICAL HUMANITY & INSPIRED CHARITY"

PRESIDENT COOLIDGE ADDRESSES OPENING OF ARC CONVENTION

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 6, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge spoke at the opening meeting of the American Red Cross* held here in the Nation's Capital.

The President, according to the Evening Star, thanked the organization for its accomplishments for "practical humanity and inspired charity."

Mr. Coolidge said the United States has the opportunity...

"to capitalize and direct the finest, the most appealing attribute of our human nature--charity."

*American Red Cross is a non-profit organization providing emergency assistance, disaster relief and disaster preparedness education in the United States.  It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE

"Coolidge Visions Red Cross Ideals Actuating World," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 6, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

American Red Cross Truck

Pittsburgh, PA (2019)

ARC Photo 

by Tony Webster

"PRACTICAL IDEALISM"

PRESIDENT COOLIDGE SPEAKS AT AMERICAN RED CROSS CONVENTION

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 24, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge delivered the main address at the American Red Cross* Convention held at Memorial Continental Hall here in the Nation's Capital.

The President talked about "practical idealism" which he described as "a deep faith in spiritual things tempered by a hard common sense adapted to the needs of the world."

The President said that practical idealism has been demonstrated by the American Red Cross in its' relief campaign following the recent world war.

The Evening Star reports that this was Calvin Coolidge's first public speech as President of the United States. 

*American Red Cross, founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, is a non-profit humanitarian organization providing emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education.

SOURCE

"President Praises Red Cross Spirit, Opens Convention," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 24, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

 

American Red Cross Headquarters Washington, D.C.

 Photo by Carol M. Highsmith

 Library of Congress

"FOR RELIEVING SUFFERING IN THE WAR"

FINNS RECOMMEND AMERICAN RED CROSS FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Helsinki, Finland (JFK+50) On January 26, 1921, the government of Finland made the decision to recommend to the Prize Committee  that the American Red Cross* receive the Nobel Peace Prize for...

"its blessed activities (which) relieved suffering in the war, served the purposes of humanity and promoted mutual solidarity of the nations."

 

*The American National Red Cross is a humanitarian organization providing emergency assistance, disaster relief and disaster preparedness education. 

ARC was founded by Clara Barton in 1881 in Dansville, NY.  John D. Rockefeller was among the donors for the National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

 

JFK+50 NOTE

President Kennedy once told a story about his Secretary of Labor Arthur Goldberg who it seemed had once gotten lost on a mountain climb. 

JFK said a search party was dispatched and yelled out, "GOLDBERG! GOLDBERG! IT'S THE RED CROSS!" 

The President said, "this voice came down the mountain...'I gave at the office'."  

 

SOURCE

"Finns Ask Nobel Prize For U.S. Red Cross," The New York Tribune, January 27, 1921, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

 

World War II Poster

Women Who Came to the Front

Library of Congress

 

 

"OUR GREATEST ENEMY WAS NOT THE GERMANS, BUT DIRT"

RED CROSS PRAISED FOR WORK IN WWI

Rahway, New Jersey (JFK+50) One hundred years ago, January 24, 1919, "Over Here" published a front page article quoting a statement made by the Surgeon General of the United States Army, General Merritte W. Ireland*, praising the work of the American Red Cross during the world war.

The statement read...

"Without the help of the American Red Cross, the American Medical Department could not have done its work. Our greatest enemy in this war was not the Germans, but dirt.  

Never before have soldiers had to fight so much exposed to dirt and filth.  And yet never has a great war been won with so little suffering and death caused by this enveloping contagion.  

For this achievement...we have to thank most of all the American Red Cross."

The statement was to be included in the February 1919 issue of Red Cross Magazine.

*Merritte Weber Ireland (1867-1952) was born in Columbia City, Indiana.  MWI received medical degrees from Detroit College of Medicine (1890) & Jefferson Medical College (1891).  He served as a surgeon with the 45th U.S. Volunteer Infantry (1899) & was Surgeon General (1918-1931).

SOURCE

"Red Cross Great Aid In Winning The War," Over Here:  Official Publication of United States Army General Hospital, January 24, 1919.  www.collections.nlm.nih.gov/

Merritte W. Ireland

Surgeon General

From "The Medical Dept of the US Army

in the World War"

by Joseph H. Ford (1927)

OUR BOYS NEED TOBACCO, GUM & CANDY!

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2399

FIRST AMERICAN WOMEN VISIT OUR BOYS IN FRANCE

Paris, France (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, August 13, 1917, "the first American women to visit the camps of the United States expeditionary forces in France" arrived here in Paris.

The women had just completed an automobile tour under the direction of the American Red Cross which included a visit to the Front.

At the American camps, scores of soldiers "gathered around" the cars bearing the women seeking to shake their hands.  After their arrival, the women joined the boys for lunch in the mess tent.

The women learned the boys were most in need of tobacco, chewing gum and candy which were almost impossible to obtain.

Among the women visiting the camps were Mrs. Isabel Lathrop, Mrs. Helen Crean, Miss Caroline Stephens, and Miss Frances Joliffe.

JFK+50 NOTE

The American Red Cross website says...

"The Army and Navy...requested thousands of surgical dressings and..."comfort" items for their men.  Between 1917 & 1919, over 8 million (Red Cross) chapter women (&) Junior Red Cross members produced over 370 million relief articles for the Allied armed forces & civilians in Europe."

According to the National Museum of American History...

"Thousands of women in the United States...worked to bring relief to the war-torn countries in Europe, even before official American entry into the war.  After the United States joined the Allies, women continued to join these organizations and dedicate themselves to supporting and expanding the war effort."


SOURCES

"A History of Service:  The American Red Cross During World War I,"  by Susan Watson, April 10, 1917, American Red Cross, www.redcrosschat.org/

"First American Women Visit The Boys In France," The Chicago Daily Tribune, August 14, 1917.

"Women in World War I," The National Museum of American History, www.americanhistory.si.edu/

Flag of the Red Cross

by Jon Harald Soby (2005)

RED CROSS SAYS, AMERICA FIRST!

RED CROSS TO TAKE CARE OF AMERICANS FIRST

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, June 28, 1917, the Executive Committee of the local chapter of the American Red Cross established "lines of duty" for its members.  The committee meeting was the first since the campaign to raise 100 million dollars was initiated.

The Chicago Daily Tribune reported the lines of duty included...

--aid for American soldiers and sailors and their families

--aid for the wounded & helpless women and children of Europe

Committee chairman Marquis Eaton* said...

"The Red Cross will supply comfort kits, organize hospitals attached to fighting units, and organize sanitary troops."

*Marquis Eaton of 5634 Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL was a member of the law firm of De Frees, Buckingham & Eaton, 105 South La Salle Street.  He served as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Chicago Red Cross Chapter & his interests included baseball & golf.

SOURCES

"America First, To Be Policy of Red Cross Here", The Chicago Daily Tribune, June 29, 1917.

"Marquis Eaton, Attorney, Is Stricken by Pneumonia",  The Chicago Daily Tribune, September 18, 1925.

Marquis Eaton
Lawyer
American Red Cross
1923 Print

WOMEN OF GERMAN PARENTAGE BARRED BY RED CROSS

AMERICAN RED CROSS BARS GERMAN WOMEN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) All American women of German parentage are to be barred from service in the American Red Cross by order of Colonel Jefferson R. Kean* of the United States Medical Corps.

The Colonel's order, issued 100 years ago today, June 26, 1917, was sent out to directors of Red Cross hospitals across the nation.

According to a special report in the Chicago Daily Tribune, women of German, Austrian, Bulgarian and Turkish birth were under suspicion "in the allied country" and their presence would embarrass Red Cross units going abroad.

*Colonel Jefferson Kean received the Army Distinguished Service Medal as a Brigadier General "for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service to the Government of the United States."

SOURCES

Hall of Valor, www.valor.militarytimes.com/

"Red Cross Bars German Women", The Chicago Daily Tribune, June 27, 1917.

University of Virginia Library

Jefferson Randolph Kean
Colonel U.S. Army
circa 1909
The University of Virginia Library