Thirteen members of the Girl Scouts from St. Patrick's school are helping the American Red Cross prepare for their annual fund-drive campaign which began March 1, 1950. All the girls are Junor Red Cross members but here they were working as Girl Scouts of troop No. 15. L-R, seated, Margery Graham, Jane Hely, Darlys Holland, Pat Lynam and Mrs. Emmett Maloney (troop leader). Standing, Pat Reed, Mary Helen McNerthney, Caroline Eskstrom, Joanne Backer, Mary Jean Barton, Rose Brosamer, Mary Jo Sigler and Sally Slater. Ordered by Mrs. Thomson. (TNT, 2/19/1950, p.B-3)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; Uniforms; Posters; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Girl Scouts (Tacoma);

Tacoma City light employees are pictured during one of their lessons in the Red Cross first aid course at the county chapter's assembly room at 306 So. 7th St. Seventy-five mobile units of City Lights were equipped with first aid supplies and 400 employees took the specialized training, which resulted in employees saving the lives of three of their own in 1949. The course was taught by City Light Safety Supervisor Gordon Tatum, who was also safety services director of the Red Cross chapter. The "patient" in the picture is Cecil Bates. First row, left to right, are Tatum (kneeling), Robert Bodin, James Kelly, Gene Buck, Arnold Larson and Howard Willis. Second row- Frank Bonaro, Stanley Duel, Charles Simpson, Jack Maddex, Max Hoff, Dave Robinson and Roy Bush. Back Row- Ed Frank, Ronald Wallis, Leroy Michaelson, Ben Brewster, Douglas Reed, Ed Herness, Boyd Beacroft and Duane Kirkes. (TNT 3/17/1950 pg. A-5)

Men--Tacoma--1950-1960; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); First aid--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma City Light (Tacoma); Tatum, Gordon E.;

Ada E. Rolstad has just been appointed the new director of the Gray Lady service department for the Pierce County Chapter of the American National Red Cross. Mrs. Rolstad will be in charge of all of the Gray Lady's activities. Mrs. Rolstad has been a Gray Lady at Madigan General Hospital for more than five years, and was the corps chairman during most of World War II (T.N.T., 10/30/49, p. D-9).

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Uniforms; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Rolstad, Ada E.;

Chldren who will distribute Red Cross supplies, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. March was Red Cross Month and posters calling attention to the 1949 fund raising campaign were distributed to Tacoma businesses by members of the Junior Red Cross. Names listed in newspaper. (T.Times, 3/1/1949, p.1)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teenagers;

Bellarmine students stepped in to help deliver printed materials for the Red Cross during their national fund drive in March of 1952. They are gathered around a DeSoto which is used by the Red Cross and is parked outside the organization's headquarters. Pierce County's Red Cross drive with a goal of $150,000 officially opened on March 1st. People were asked to "Answer the Call" and give generously during the fund drive. Locally the Red Cross had been heavily involved in assisting the families of soldiers pouring through Fort Lewis on their way to the Korean War. (TNT 3-2-52, p1-2-article)

Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; DeSoto automobile;

Twenty women volunteers from the American Red Cross and garden clubs have been working making holiday decorations with cut greenery, ribbons and pine cones for Madigan and other military hospitals. This is a service they have provided for many holiday seasons. (TNT, 12/23/1950, p.B-3)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Christmas decorations;

The Junior Red Cross Council represented twelve junior and senior high schools in Tacoma and Pierce County. They are seen here as they held their November 1950 meeting. At the extreme right is Sheila Ryan, re-elected president of the council. The group had mailed overseas holiday boxes several weeks earlier and at this session they were finalizing plans for Christmas in hospitals and homes nearby. Ordered by Mrs. Thomson. (TNT, 11/24/1950, p.D-1)

American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teenagers--1950-1960; Ryan, Sheila;

H.S. Baarslag, Jr., demonstrates the city water department's new walkie-talkie which would be used by the Tacoma Civil Defense if the event of a wartime emergency. He demonstrated the machine at a Civil Defense meeting at Red Cross Headquarters. The state director for Civil Defense, Philip Batson, outlined the government program and told of the need for construction of air raid shelters. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 12/28/1950, p.15)

American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Korean War, 1950-1953--Civil defense--Tacoma; Communication devices;

Annual meeting of the American Red Cross at the Chapter House in Tacoma in July 1949. . The Pierce County chapter was offering free home nursing courses. The program had awarded 274 home nursing certificates to students, housewives and Army wives during the previous year. It was also the first year that classes were held for Army wives at Fort Lewis. (photo taken for Mrs. Thomson) TNT, 7/7/1949, p.6)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tradition still ruled the fashion of Red Cross dress in March of 1949 when these surgical dressings workers were photographed for an article in the Tacoma News Tribune. They are all wearing white uniforms, with a veil centered in a little embroidered cross of red. March was American Red Cross month and the Tacoma-Pierce County chapter was getting ready to begin its 1949 fund raising campaign. Caught by the camera organizing surgical supplies for military hospitals were: (l to r) Leona McCune, Lucille Branchflower, Eleanora Price, Jessie K. Bacon and Eleanore Bertheau. (T. Times, 3/13/49, p. 24).

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Medical equipment & supplies; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); McCune, Leona; Branchflower, Lucille; Price, Eleanora; Bacon, Jessie K.;

In February of 1950, six volunteers were busy packing materials for the American Red Cross fund-raising campaign at the organization's offices at 306 So. 7th St. They were, L-R, Myra (Mrs. R.G.) Glanville, Eleanor Dickinson, Marie Schmide, Mrs. Eric Aleryd, Betty Lambeth and Blanche Stempczynski. Posters for the campaign were tacked up behind the women. Words on the base of the flag holder on the corner of the desk read, "The world looks to these two flags." Ordered by Mrs. Thomson. (TNT, 2/17/1950, p.4)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; Posters; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma);

Group at Chapter House of American Red Cross. Portrait of ten men and two women in room of brick building decorated with flags, paintings, and display case. For Red Tatum.

Twelve newly capped Gray Ladies, some holding their certificates, pose for a group portrait at Red Cross headquarters on October 5, 1955. Capping ceremonies occurred several times a year; the Gray Ladies were part of the Red Cross volunteer support units. They were a vital part of community services offered at various local hospitals. Seated from left to right are: Mrs. Albert Windsor, Catherine Pentimonti, Mrs. Carl Kerklau, Mrs. Clifton Price, Mrs. Ray Manges. Standing are: Clarreen Thelan, Mrs. Herman Hunt, Judy Trojan, Bobbie Trojan, Mrs. Harold Barwick, Shirlee Allen and Mrs. H.F. Weber. Mrs. Manges and Mrs. Weber were also recipients of service awards; they had been Gray Ladies for sevearl years. These Gray Ladies would be serving at Madigan Army Hospital. (TNT 10-9-55, A-9)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Uniforms;

Tacoma Civil Defense group at Red Cross Headquarters building. Large group of men and one woman with Civil Defense banner as backdrop.

The Gray Ladies were one of the American National Red Cross's many support programs. These six women, dressed in uniforms, are a group of Gray Ladies photographed in the Red Cross Room of the Tacoma-Pierce County chapter house on South 7th Street in the summer of 1951. Eight Gray Ladies received their caps and certificates in ceremonies honoring them; they will be serving at the American Lake hospital. Seated from left to right are Mrs. George Girard, chairman, and Mrs. Hattie Reis. Standing, left to right, are Mrs. Carl Meredith, Mrs. W.C. Tilton, Mrs. Al Osborn and Mrs. Brandt McIntyre. (TNT 7-31-51, p. 26)

American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; Uniforms; Women--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Red Cross Headquarters, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. The Red Cross "Production Service" workers, many of whom had given thousands of hours to the Red Cross, took on even longer hours and heavier jobs in packaging supplies for workers in the 1949 Fund Campaign. Names are listed in the newspaper. (T.Times, 3/20/1949, p.5)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community Service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

American Red Cross, home nursing class, American Red Cross, Mary Stacy Thomas. The Red Cross had been offering classes in home nursing during World War II and they continued after the war. Two women are resting in bed while a Red Cross nurse shows how to serve them meals in bed. Several women watch and listen to be able to better care for members of their families and friends.

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Health care--Tacoma--1940-1950; Nursing--Tacoma; Sick persons;

Members from Sherman School's Girl Scout troop No. 65 are also Junior Red Cross volunteers; the girls are seen packaging up materials for an upcoming accident prevention course that all Junior Red Cross members will participate in. Junior Red Cross volunteers are also preparing for the upcoming Easter activities, including the military hospital visits. Names appear in newspaper (T.N.T., 4/3/49, p. A-11).

Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Girl Scouts (Tacoma); American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma);

Mrs. M. L. Larson (left) and Mrs. Rae Nichols (right), heads of the Red Cross residential solicitation group, make calls for The American Red Cross 1950 Fund Campaign beginning March 1 and continuing throughout the month, under the local direction of Brigadier General E.M. Llewellyn. The two ladies made more than 6,000 calls in a few weeks recruiting 398 door to door solictors aiding in the drive. The residential drive included canvassing every home in Pierce County with "nobody asked to solicit more than three blocks." The 1950 financial goal for the Pierce County Chapter was $135,000. The fund drive was essential for the Red Cross which had no tax or federal funds allocated for its work and was supported entirely by voluntary contributions of individuals and organizations. (TNT 3/5/1950 A-4)

Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Nichols, Rae; Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960;

On June 28, 1949 Mrs. Beth Giseburt was pictured taking inventory of the Tacoma/Pierce County Red Cross Chapter's supplies for hospital emergency, home service or disaster relief. The volunteer staff of 30 in the production department, headed by Mrs. Giseburt, worked more than 8,100 hours between September 1948 and June 1949. They planned to be on vacation, however, July and August. The Red Cross of Tacoma dates to 1898. (TNT, 7/5/1949, p.17)

American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Clothing relief--Tacoma; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Giseburt, Beth;

Twelve women volunteers at the American Red Cross are wrapping bandages on December 19, 1950. They are among the group of Tacoma Red Cross volunteer workers who had made more than 350,000 surgical dressings for use at Madigan Army Hospital using material furnished by the Army. From left to right, front row: Mary K. (Mrs. A.P.) Smith, Lena Gerwels and Mrs. T.A. Robson; center row, Grace E. (Mrs. W.H.) Hyatt, Elsa L. (Mrs. W.) Nelsen, Mrs. T.A. Stevens, Mrs. Howard Martin, Mrs. J.A. Berg, and Ruth A. (Mrs. Ralph) Zumhoff, chairman; standing, Mrs. W.A. Chadwick, Mrs. H.S. Marnes, and Bernice J. (Mrs. Edwin) Howard. (TNT, 4/3/1951, p.3)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma);

Red Cross would be hosting an autumn tea for all of their volunteers, Kathryn Plum and the Red Cross Board of directors would be hosting the tea. View of Kathryn J. Plum, Chairman of Volunteer Services at the Pierce County Chapter house; she is sitting at her desk reviewing the "Red Cross Courier"; Red Cross volunteer poster in background (T.N.T., 9/28/49, p. 11).

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Uniforms; Posters; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Plum, Kathryn J.;