Red Cross 140th Anniversary

Portrait of Clara Barton, 1860s or 1870s

Clara Barton (1821 – 1912), an American philanthropist, was born in Oxford, Massachusetts. During the Civil War, she distributed supplies for the relief of wounded soldiers. She founded the American Red Cross in 1881, and the following year, the government ratified the Treaty of Geneva. 

Johnstown, Pennsylvania Flood Shelter, 1889

The Red Cross provided medical and nursing care, built shelters to house the homeless, and distributed supplies and housing materials to help victims get "back to normal.” 

Red Cross Water Safety Program, 1914

Commodore Wilbert E. Longfellow founds the Red Cross Water Safety Program. Assisted by the YWCA Lifesaving Corps, Longfellow is pictured here offering free swimming lessons in 1923. 

World War I, Circa 1917

Nurses work at a recruiting station to field new members.

Influenza Epidemic, 1918

During Word War I, American Red Cross volunteer workers make influenza face masks during the influenza epidemic.

Red Cross National Blood Donor Service, 1941

Working with Dr. Charles R. Drew, the Red Cross begins collecting blood for the military. The program grew into the civilian blood donor service in 1948. In this photo, boxes of blood plasma collected by the Red Cross are ready for shipment to U.S. service members.  

World War II, 1942

Two Red Cross workers from the Washington, D.C. chapter, assemble POW packages to distribute to allied prisoners in WWII.

Red Cross Home Nursing Instruction, 1943

Starting in 1912, Red Cross nurses began teaching Home Hygiene and Care of the Sick to civilians. With many nurses and doctors overseas during World War II, the program took on even greater importance. Here, a Red Cross nurse provides home nursing instruction in Los Angeles, 1943. 

World War II, Italy, 1944

The American Red Cross Clubmobile staff, pictured with the U.S. Army Air Force, had hot coffee and doughnuts ready for the troops.

First Aid Stations Across the U.S., 1948

Dotting the highways of the United States, more than 2,000 gasoline stations, wayside stores, police stations and fire departments are designated as Red Cross Highway First Aid Stations. 

Korean War, 1952

Pusan, Korea. Red Cross Clubmobile staff dispense hot coffee and doughnuts to GIs at an isolated location. 

Learning to Swim, 1962

Joanne Baxter of Palo Alto, CA earns her Red Cross beginner swimming certificate at the age of 3.

Vietnam Youth Friendship Project, 1965

Junior Red Cross members assemble friendship boxes for fellow schoolchildren in Vietnam as part of the Red Cross-sponsored Vietnam youth friendship project.

Phu Loi, South Vietnam, 1968

A Red Cross assistant field director delivers word from home to a service member stationed in South Vietnam.

Operation New Life, 1975

Operation New Life begins with Red Cross helping Southeast Asian refugees at reception centers in Guam and the Wake Island and U.S. transit points, providing clothing, health care, counseling and communications. In this photo, National Guard barracks have been quickly converted to house Vietnamese refugee families in Arkansas.

Loma Prieta, 1989

The 7.1 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake was the deadliest to strike Northern California in 80 years, damaging 21,000 homes and other structures. The Red Cross helped 14,000 families affected by the disaster. At a Red Cross shelter in San Francisco, a Red Cross nurse bandages a man’s wrist. 

Hurricane Andrew, 1992

Hurricane Andrew struck Florida, destroying homes and causing widespread devastation. Featured here is American Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole with IFRC President Mario Enrique Villarroel Lande delivering meals to local children affected by the storm.

Hurricane Katrina, 2005

Hurricane Katrina becomes one of the most destructive storms in the history of the Gulf Coast, killing nearly 2,000 people and leaving millions homeless. The Red Cross mobilizes its largest, single disaster relief effort to date. Two subsequent hurricanes of significant strength hit, compounding the devastation and impacting relief operations.

Southern California Wildfires, 2007

A Red Cross worker watches the Harris Fire burning in the southeastern section of San Diego County.

Home Fire Campaign, 2014

In 2014, the Red Cross launches its national Home Fire Campaign with community partners. Through the campaign, volunteers and partners have saved hundreds of lives and installed more than 2 million free smoke alarms.

Blood Donation During COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020

In 2020, the blood donor program continues adapting and meeting current needs by testing convalescent plasma from eligible donors for COVID-19 antibodies. The automated test simplifies the eligibility process and increases the potential donor pool.