Page:William McCormick Blair, Committee on Public Information - The American Red Cross - Supplement No. 20-B (1917).pdf/1

 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION

December 17, 1917.

The Red Cross was conceived by Henri Dunant, (Dunan), a Swiss philanthropist, who had seen how Florence Nightingale, a trained nurse, organized a corps of women in the Crimean war. His efforts resulted in an International Conference at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1864, which two years later resulted in the Treaty of Geneva, sometimes called the Red Cross Treaty. The American Red Cross Association was formed the same year (1866) and the United States Government signed the Geneva Treaty in 1882.

The American Red Cross is a voluntary association of American people, authorized by act of Congress. Its task is to give relief to sufferers from disasters of any kind, the world over. In time of war, it supplies comfort to our armed forces, especially by supplementing the medical service.

The organization and management are in the hands of a Central Committee of 18. The President of the United States appoints six of these, including the Chairman of the Committee, who at present is Hon. William Howard Taft. President Wilson is now the President of the Red Cross.

The Red Cross War Council was appointed by President Wilson for this war. This Council established national headquarters at Washington, with thirteen divisions throughout the country, each division taking charge of Local Chapters.

Any man, woman, or child may become a member of the Red Cross by payment of the following dues. Voluntary service is also welcome.

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