The Chapel Hill Red Cross chapter, 1917–1919

In the chronology

Events in this storyline, in date order. See these 13 dated events in the chronology →

1. May 28, 1917 Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents vote to form a Red Cross chapter at the Graded School Dr. Louis H. Webb, charged with organizing chapters in his medical district, called a Monday night meeting of Chapel Hill and Carrboro people at the Graded School building on May 28, 1917, which voted almost unanimously for a full chapter rather than an auxiliary. Seventy-one people enrolled at the chapter's first meeting, which elected George Howe chairman and Alice Noble vice-chairman. People: George Howe, Alice NobleSearch the index · State Archives of North Carolina, Military Collection, WWI Papers, Box 2, Folder 37: Orange County Red Cross History (typescripts, 1918-1919), scan 18
2. June 9, 1917 The Chapel Hill Red Cross opens its headquarters and workroom in a Main Street store Chapel Hill's Red Cross was organized as an auxiliary at a meeting in the high school auditorium on May 28, 1917, when 71 members enrolled, and it soon sought chapter status. Mayor W. S. Roberson lent a vacant store on Main Street rent free, and the headquarters opened there on Saturday, June 9. By June 18, according to the chapter's own history, all its organization papers had arrived, giving it jurisdiction over the part of Orange County on its side of the railroad. The store served as headquarters and workroom for surgical dressings for six months. People: W. S. RobersonSearch the index · State Archives of North Carolina, Military Collection, WWI Papers, Box 2, Folder 37: Orange County Red Cross History (typescripts, 1918-1919), scan 18 · Also: The News (Chapel Hill), May 31, 1917, p. 1; The News (Chapel Hill), June 14, 1917, p. 1
3. late July 1917 The Chapel Hill Red Cross ships a box of 1,462 surgical dressings Answering an urgent call, the Chapel Hill chapter of the Red Cross shipped a box of 1,462 bandages, compresses and other dressings. The chapter had 310 members and twenty to twenty-five women working at its headquarters each workday. People: James Bell BullittThe News (Chapel Hill), August 2, 1917, p. 1
4. late August 1917 The Chapel Hill Red Cross sends comfort bags to the county's Battery C men The Chapel Hill chapter of the Red Cross sent comfort bags to the Orange County men of Battery C in camp at Durham, and a committee of the battery wrote to thank the women.The News (Chapel Hill), September 6, 1917, p. 1
5. October 1917 The Chapel Hill Red Cross re-elects its officers and names delegates to the state Red Cross congress At the chapter's annual meeting in October 1917, its second under the constitution, members re-elected the officers except treasurer Mrs. J. H. Pratt, who resigned, and chose Dr. J. M. Bullitt in her place. George Howe, Bullitt and Mrs. K. J. Brown were named delegates to the state Red Cross congress in Raleigh on November 1 and 2. The chapter history dates the meeting October 17; the News of October 18 announced it for Friday evening, October 19, in the school auditorium. People: George HoweSearch the index · State Archives of North Carolina, Military Collection, WWI Papers, Box 2, Folder 37: Orange County Red Cross History (typescripts, 1918-1919), scan 19 · Also: The News (Chapel Hill), October 18, 1917, p. 5
6. by December 13, 1917 The Chapel Hill Red Cross chapter counts 8,202 finished articles shipped In two weeks the Chapel Hill chapter shipped three cases: 135 Christmas packages for soldiers, six over its quota, then boxes of 1,230 bandages and knitted articles and 3,654 gauze compresses, rolls and eye bandages, bringing its total to 8,202 articles. About 40 workers came to the workroom each Thursday, and women in Carrboro and the surrounding country made up work sent out to them.The News (Chapel Hill), December 13, 1917, p. 1
7. January 1, 1918 The Chapel Hill Red Cross moves its workrooms into the Zeta Psi fraternity hall After its first home, a Main Street store lent by Mayor W. S. Roberson, was sold to the People's Bank, the chapter moved on January 1, 1918, into the lower floor of the Zeta Psi fraternity hall, offered by the university's Upsilon chapter. People: W. S. RobersonSearch the index · Documenting the American South: A Record of the War Activities in Orange County, North Carolina, 1917-1919, p. 5
8. May 1918 Chapel Hill more than doubles its Red Cross War Fund quota Assessed $500 in the Red Cross War Fund drive of May 1918, the Chapel Hill chapter raised it within a few days and turned in $1,156.60 by the drive's close, under Dr. J. M. Bell with J. S. Holmes. People: James Munsie Bell, John Simcox HolmesSearch the index · Documenting the American South: A Record of the War Activities in Orange County, North Carolina, 1917-1919, p. 16
9. September 1, 1918 The Chapel Hill Red Cross starts a conservation committee that ships nut shells for gas masks The chapter appointed a Committee on Conservation under Mrs. M. H. Stacy on September 1, 1918. On November 20 it shipped four barrels of nut shells for gas masks and seventeen pounds of tin foil.Search the index · Documenting the American South: A Record of the War Activities in Orange County, North Carolina, 1917-1919, p. 8
10. November 21, 1918 The Chapel Hill Red Cross elects A. H. Patterson chairman at its annual meeting At its annual meeting on Thursday, November 21, 1918, the chapter elected Dr. A. H. Patterson chairman, with Alice Noble vice-chairman, Nellie Roberson secretary and Dudley Carroll treasurer. Earlier that fall George Howe had resigned for his duties on the University's Student Army Training Corps committee, and J. M. Bell had taken his place. People: George Howe, Alice Noble, Dudley Dewitt Carroll, James Munsie Bell, Andrew Henry PattersonSearch the index · State Archives of North Carolina, Military Collection, WWI Papers, Box 2, Folder 37: Orange County Red Cross History (typescripts, 1918-1919), scan 19
11. November 1918 The Chapel Hill Red Cross moves its workroom to the University Inn After the armistice of November 11, 1918, the chapter left the Zeta Psi fraternity hall for roomy quarters in the University Inn that the University provided.Search the index · State Archives of North Carolina, Military Collection, WWI Papers, Box 2, Folder 37: Orange County Red Cross History (typescripts, 1918-1919), scan 18
12. by January 2, 1919 The American Red Cross commends Chapel Hill women for their work in the influenza epidemic The American Red Cross sent special commendation cards to Chapel Hill women for their work during the influenza epidemic of the fall. The News printed the list among the chapter notes; it began with Mrs. K. J. Brown, Mrs. W. deB. MacNider and Miss Josie Pritchard.The News (Chapel Hill), January 2, 1919, p. 1