American Red Cross, Muncie Area Chapter records and photographs

The local chapter of the American Red Cross held its organizational meeting April 25, 1917, at the Commercial Club, corner of Main and Jefferson Streets. The eighteen to twenty persons in attendance at that first meeting had been working for the Belgium Relief Fund. The following officers were elected: Theodore Rose, Chairman; Mrs. F. C. Ball, Vice-Chairman; F. J. Claypool, Secretary and K. A. Osterle, Treasurer. Mr. Rose served as Chairman until his death. Other early leaders included G. A. Gall, F. J. Claypool, F. D. Rose, E. Arthur Ball and Ralph Noyer. By-laws for the organization were adopted May 22, 1917, creating 36 directors. In 1936, at the 17th Annual Meeting, the by-laws were amended and the number of directors was reduced to nine. In 1925, the local chapter became part of the Community Fund.

The first office space for the American Red Cross was at 220-222 E. Main St. Service at the time the chapter was organized consisted of making surgical dressings, sewing and knitting. The entire fifth floor of the Johnson Building, 318 S. Walnut, was used by the Red Cross and for a time surgical dressings were made in the old Masonic Temple at the corner of Main and High. A workroom was also donated in the Boyce Block, Main & Jefferson. In July of 1918, a Canteen service was organized to meet trains and aid the traveling soldiers.

In 1924, the Junior Red Cross was organized and in 1930, classes were offered in First Aid and Life Saving.

With the start of the Second World War, new programs were instituted. Nellie G. Brown, Superintendent of Nurses at Ball Memorial Hospital, organized the Nurse Aide Program. Dr. L. R. Mason chaired a committee to solicit blood plasma donors and in 1943, the local chapter established a Motor Corp. to aid in transporting blood donors and donations. A war relief program also brought aid to Poland, Finland, England, China and Spain and it was during this period that the Red Cross offices were moved to 322 E. Washington, their present home.