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:

ARC pins,
Nationally-issued posters,
ARC uniforms

As a collector, I am interested in all these plus

Patches
Postcards
Sheet Music

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.

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.

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 from various ARC units can also be found here. Also check out the Lot Sales

7/11/08

Collecting other Red Cross "stuff"? Here are items that might interest you! Ornaments, medallions, mugs, artwork, and jewelry. Have something I should add to this site? Let's talk!

Pin Map

Interested in Jewelry?
In addition to the earrings on the consignment page, a couple of chapters
have done some nice stuff. Check out these web pages:

Barron County Chapter, WI
Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter, CA
(temporarily not on web...call)

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.

Posters	Counter Cards	Window Stickers	Worker ID's
Postcards	Luggage Stickers	Magazine Covers	Sheet Music

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.

Christmas Seals	Coins	Dolls
Printer's Blocks	Truck Banks/Vehicles

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.

Who The Heck Is Shirley Powers Anyway?

A little background on me...should you care.