Ball Memorial Hospital Auxiliary records

The Ball Memorial Hospital Auxiliary was founded as the Woman's Auxiliary of Ball Memorial Hospital on February 7, 1934 through the efforts of Nellie Brown, then general superintendent of the hospital who served as the group's counselor and advisor. The original eight founding members of the group were Mrs. Will C. Moore, Mrs. Harry Wolf, Mrs. J.W. Malloy, Mrs. Myron Gray, Mrs. Frank Kimbrough, Mrs. James Kimbrough, Mrs. Carl O'Harra, and Miss Sara Carson. The Auxiliary's membership included those women who were members of organizations already participating in hospital volunteer work and other individuals and organizations interested in devoting their time and effort to help in the hospital.

The purpose of the organization was to promote the interests of the hospital by assisting with the many activities and projects approved by the directors of the hospital to support the management of the hospital and the comfort of its patients. Over the years, these activities included distributing books to patients; sewing bandages, cast covers, aprons, and bed sheets; fillng Christmas stockings and arranging Easter church services for patients; providing emergency aid service during World War II; collecting materials for and constructing polio packs during the polio epidemic of 1949; and fundraising events like the benefit card party, Delicacy Week, Charity Ball, Charity Auction, and Festival of Trees and Light.

In 1983, the name of the organization was changed from Woman's Auxiliary of Ball Memorial Hospital to Ball Memorial Hospital Auxiliary to accomodate the male members of the board. Circa 2012, the volunteer activities of the auxiliary were transfered to the hospital's Volunteer Resources office and the organization's fundraising responsibilities were assumed by the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation.