Report and photographs documenting the district's relief work, from Oct. 21 to Nov. 16, 1918, in response to the influenza epidemic.

The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton in Washinton D.C. on May 21, 1881, dedicated to serving people in need. The Red Cross has provided domestic and overseas disaster relief, public health nursing programs, and created the first nationwide civilian blood program. Today, services include civil defense, CPR/AED training, HIV/AIDS education, and emotional care and support in the wake of disasters. The San Francisco Red Cross Society was established in May of 1898, to support soldiers returning from the Spanish-American War. Its first office was located at California and Sansome Streets. They provided food to soldiers in the old Ferry Building, and established a reading room at the Presidio division hospital. By January of 1900, the group held monthly meetings at its rooms in the Hearst Building on Third and Market streets (later destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire). During the 1906 earthquake and fire, the local Red Cross temporarily merged with Associated Charities of San Francisco (now known as Family Service Agency of San Francisco) to provide disaster relief, working directly to feed and house residents. The Red Cross ran a tent city in Golden Gate Park as part of these efforts. The organization was incorporated as the San Francisco Relief and Red Cross Funds in 1906. The local chapter, soon known as San Francisco Chapter of the American National Red Cross (also known as the American Red Cross), was particularly active during both World Wars. Since then, the group became part of the Bay Area chapter. It continues to operate a blood and platelet donation center in San Francisco.

2 folders

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