Women of the Unadilla Branch of the American Red Cross

The Red Cross received its first congressional charter in 1900 and a second in 1905. This charter set forth the purpose of the organization - giving relief to and serving as a medium of communication between members of the American armed forces and their families, and providing national and international disaster relief and mitigation.

Though the American Red Cross was given this charter by Congress, it is not a federally funded organization. The American Red Cross is a non-profit, charitable organization that receives its funding from public donations.

During World War I, the American Red Cross faced an unprecedented national need for its service. Raising the funds to deliver this service required that the organization use advertising to appeal directly to the American people. The American Red Cross used many means of publicity, most of which the organization had never before employed, to encourage donations and volunteers. The American Red Cross assembled an advertising campaign that proved to be extremely effective.

The campaign included: posters; newspaper and magazine advertisements and articles; banners and billboards; brochures and leaflets; motion pictures; public speakers; and public events (including local parades and pageants).  In total, the War Funds brought in about $250,000,000, which significantly surpassed the American Red Cross’s expectations.

How do women contribute to solving national issues?

 

Describe the women in the photograph and explain their contribution to World War I.