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! Also, be sure to put something in the Subject line...there is a virus going around that sends out emails with no subject...I don't open these.
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."
It's Here!!
The latest edition is from January 2024! It's Free!! The Guide can be
viewed with Acrobat Reader or downloaded to the device of your choice. Additional pins are shown under New Pins below. For download
information click here.
If you only have one or two items to identify, you can
contact me by email with a picture or description
and I'll get back to you.
Volunteer
Service Pins
Information
About Nurse Badges
National Pins from the 1940's (WWII)
Other Useful Pin Information
As new pins are issued (or "newly" discovered) I try to
help people keep up. These pages show pins and idcodes not in the current
edition of the Pin Guide or where there might be changes in the picture or other
information.
11/04/24
New Pins
Collecting and Trading
I have listed pins I have available
in quantities 03/15/24 from various ARC units. Also check out the Lot Sales
03/14/24
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. It is available in PDF format. Click here.
Some
WWII Era Uniforms
Patches
I've added pictures of my patch collection (and a number
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
Information on Coffee & Doughnuts
The Red Cross Emblem--meaning and
use
Provided with permission of the American National Red Cross
ARC
Museum
American
Red Cross Home Page
American Red Cross Overseas Association
If you have comments or suggestions, email
me