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1. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

2. 1917
   Health or relief action · Red Cross room, Hillsborough Hillsborough children aged six to sixteen learn to knit for soldiers in a Red Cross class

   Henrietta P. Collins and Mrs. J. Cheshire Webb taught girls and boys from six to sixteen to knit wash cloths for soldiers, using knitting cotton that Daniel Miller and Co. of Baltimore donated through Lillie Bivins. The room was full at every meeting, and the better knitters moved on to wool; by October about fifty children were knitting for the chapter.

3. May 1917
   Protest or organizing · Hillsborough The Daughters of the Confederacy in Hillsborough move to start a Red Cross chapter

   At its May 1917 meeting the Gen. George B. Anderson Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, discussed the war, and presiding officer Rebecca Cameron named a committee to form a Red Cross chapter in Hillsborough. The committee wrote many letters for information, which led to the organizing meeting of June 1.

4. June 1, 1917
   Founding or opening · Session House, Hillsborough Hillsborough residents meet at the Session House library to organize a Red Cross chapter

   About thirty people met in the library at the old Session House on June 1, 1917, heard Sarah Cheshire of Raleigh explain Red Cross work with sample bandages, and joined the Red Cross. They chose J. C. Webb temporary chairman, Henrietta P. Collins secretary and Rev. T. M. Grant treasurer, and set a mass meeting for June 4.

5. July 5, 1917
   Appointment, election or service · Hillsborough The Orange County Red Cross chapter organizes permanently under John W. Graham

   At a court house meeting on July 5, 1917, the chapter read its national authority to organize with jurisdiction over all of Orange County except Chapel Hill and elected Maj. John W. Graham chairman, with Henrietta P. Collins as secretary and Margaret Forrest as treasurer. The Red Cross Central Committee's recognition letter followed on July 17.

6. October 11, 1917
   Statistic or record · Court House, Hillsborough The Orange County Red Cross reports 455 members at its first annual meeting

   At a public meeting in the Hillsborough court house, chairman John W. Graham reported 455 members since June 4, branches at Cedar Grove and New Hope, an auxiliary for Black residents, a case of 1,453 surgical dressings shipped to Atlanta, about 150 knitters, and $1,535.43 given. The officers were re-elected, and Capt. Stuart Allen of Canada's Princess Patricia regiment spoke on the fighting in France.

7. May 11, 1918
   Appointment, election or service · Hillsborough Mrs. J. Cheshire Webb is named the Orange County Red Cross's director of woman's work

   At the request of Mrs. John W. Grant, the executive committee named Mrs. J. Cheshire Webb director of woman's work on May 11, 1918, and set supervisors over the work: Sue B. Hayes for surgical dressings, Mrs. S. Strudwick for hospital garments, Mrs. W. H. Webb for supplies and shipping, and Henrietta P. Collins as chief clerk.

8. September 2, 1918
   Founding or opening · Hillsborough The Orange County Red Cross forms a canteen committee to give packages to men leaving for camp

   On September 2, 1918 the chapter appointed a canteen committee of five women, each to add another, with authority to buy supplies for packages worth up to a dollar for men leaving Hillsborough for camp. In October the Chapel Hill chapter offered to share the cost, since the men came from all parts of the county.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 1, 2026.