Red Cross Influenza Relief Station, District No 6, Final Report and Photographs

Title: Red Cross Influenza Relief Station, District No 6, Final Report and Photographs

Dates: 1918

Collection Number: SFH 631

Creator/Collector: American Red Cross. San Francisco Chapter.

Extent: 2 folders

Repository: San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center

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

Language of Material: English

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours.

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

[Identification of item]. Red Cross Influenza Relief Station, District No 6, Final Report and Photographs. Collection Number: SFH 631. San Francisco Public Library. San Francisco History Center

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.

Report of Annie Rolph, Chairman of Relief for the station (and wife of Mayor James Rolph). Undated, the report was likely written soon after Nov. 16, 1918, the last day of the station's operation. Describes the call of Oct. 21, 1918, for Red Cross workers to help in the influenza epidemic. Includes a financial statement, list of personnel, report of the medical department, and reports of meals, drugs, and clothing distributed. Photos depict staff in front of the clinic as well as inside, poised to help patients. Other images include one of Mrs. Rolph with daughter Annette at a Christmas Dinner volunteer table.