Shirley Powers
Volunteer ARC Historian
ARC Collector
Welcome! I've been a Volunteer Historian
for the American Red Cross since 1983. I can help you identify:
and many other items issued by (or about) the American Red
Cross.
I am neither a dealer nor an appraiser, and National ARC
policy asks that I not give values of memorabilia. In any case, I
would only be able to guess!
NOTE: If you email
me with a question, please be sure a reply will get through any
filtering software you have on your computer. (or include a phone number) Sometimes I try to
reply and the message comes back...and I've no other way to contact you!
Identifying
Your Pins/Medals
If you are looking to identify ARC pins and medals, you might
be interested in "A Collector's Guide to Red Cross Pins." This document
utilizes line drawings and text to help identify pins insofar as who issued,
what year, and for what purpose. (It is not a pricing guide.)
It is available two ways:
-
The National Section of pins and medals--those issued by
National HQ only, and
-
The Full Guide which covers the National and Local (chapters,
blood centers, etc.) issues.
The 2008 Guide is now available! For ordering information, click
here.
If you only have one or two items to identify, you can
contact me by email with a description
and I'll get back to you.
Volunteer
Service Pins
Information
About Nurse Badges
Help ME identify pins! Here are some pictures of pins that I don't know "Who Done It?" Do you?
Other Useful Pin Information
As new pins are issued (or "newly" discovered) I try
to help people keep up. This page lists pins not in the current edition
of the Pin Guide and links to pictures of many of those pins.
05/28/10
New Pins
Here is some information you might find helpful if your
Red Cross unit is looking to develop a pin for the first time--or change
to a new pin. The information is the results of several years' experience
in working with various units.
Developing
A Chapter Pin
Collecting and Trading
If you are a collector of Red Cross pins, you might want to visit this site to "meet" some other collectors and traders. In addition, I have listed pins I have to trade and some that I am looking for. Pins I have available on consignment 04/02/10 from various ARC units can also be found here. Also check out the Lot Sales 03/12/10
Pin Map
Posters
and other Paper Memorabilia
I maintain a "master list" of posters issued by our
National organization over the years. It is fairly complete, however
now and again I come across one I haven't documented yet. The information
I have includes text, description, size, year of issue, artist, and id
number--or such information as applies.
To help you identify what you already have (or might be
looking for), I have posted photographs of many of these ARC posters from
1910 - 1950 along with other relevant information There are
also pictures of window stickers, counter cards, worker ID tags, postcards
and some other "fun" stuff!
If you have other paper items which is not on these links,
I may still be able to provide information on it. Email me by email
with a picture (.jpg preferred) or the text (from upper left to lower right),
and such other information you can, and I'll see what "blanks" I can fill
in for you.
Uniforms
There is a growing interested in the Uniforms of
the organization, especially those worn during the war years. In
April 2006 I issued the Second Edition of A Guide to American Red Cross
Uniforms. It is a compilation of information from uniform manuals,
photographs from our Archives or magazines, and first hand accounts of
"what we were wearing." It includes line drawings of many of the
uniforms. For ordering information, please contact me by email
Some
WWII Era Uniforms
Exclusively for American Red Cross units or other official groups:
I maintain a Uniform Lending Closet so that any unit can borrow uniforms
for a special event or display. Uniforms cover different eras.
For more information, click
here.
Patches
I've added pictures of my patch collection (and a few
from friends) to the web. Click
Here. These are mostly National issues, but there are three groups
of "locals." There are more of them "out there" in most of the categories.
Have something I don't? Let's talk! email
me
Other Memorabilia
Although I have not done much in the way of research
on other items, some information has "fallen into my hands" through other
projects. I may be able to narrow down era, purpose, etc. for a number
of other American Red Cross items. Send me a description and I'll
see what I can do. If nothing else, I may be able to refer you to
someone else.
I collect almost everything. Exceptions include
letters, memos, and photographs (unless they directly relate to one of
my other projects). Let me know if you have something I might me interested
in.
A little background on me...should you care.
Other Interesting Links
ARC
Museum
American
Red Cross Home Page
American Red Cross Overseas Association
If you have comments or suggestions, email
me
