Clara Barton and associates establish the American Red Cross.
August 22, 1881:
First local chapter of the American Red Cross is formed in Dansville, New York.
September 4, 1881:
Red Cross undertakes its first disaster relief effort aiding victims of Michigan forest fires.
May 31, 1889:
Red Cross responds to Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood that kills over 2,000 people.
December 10, 1901:
Mabel T. Boardman elected to Red Cross governing board, beginning a lifelong career of organizational leadership, particularly among volunteers.
January 5, 1905:
American Red Cross receives the Congressional Charter under which it still operates today.
January 20, 1910:
First meeting held to form American Red Cross Nursing Service is chaired by Jane Delano who becomes the Service's esteemed director.
April 14, 1912:
Red Cross comes to the aid of those who survived the sinking of the Titanic.
February 1, 1914:
Commodore Wilbert E. Longfellow, known as the Amiable Whale, begins Red Cross Water Safety program.
June 27, 1916:
Home Service for the military begins with help to U.S. troops along Mexican border.
June 17, 1917:
Red Cross holds first War Fund drive surpassing a goal of $100 million in one week.
August 30, 1917:
Red Cross starts its Canteen Service to provide refreshments to the military.
September 15, 1917:
President Woodrow Wilson calls on youth to join the newly formed Junior Red Cross.
April 21, 1927:
Major levee breaks in great flood on Mississippi River as Red Cross aids victims.
March 7, 1932:
Red Cross begins distribution of government surplus wheat and cotton products to victims of drought in the Dust Bowl.
February 4, 1941:
Red Cross begins National Blood Donor Service to collect blood for the U.S. military with Dr. Charles R. Drew, formerly of the Plasma for Britian program, as medical director.
July 15, 1942:
Red Cross convenes meeting with black leaders to encourage minority participation in organization.
May 1, 1943:
Jesse Thomas is the first African-American to join the American Red Cross executive staff.
March 20, 1945:
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's last radio talk to the nation is in support of the Red Cross War Fund.
August 18, 1945:
Red Cross ends its World War II blood program for the military after collecting more than 13 million pints.
August 29, 1945:
First Red Cross field director arrives in Japan after World War II to help rebuild Japanese Red Cross.
January 12, 1948:
Red Cross begins its National Blood Program for civilians by opening its first collection center in Rochester, New York.
October 8, 1965:
Red Cross Movement adopts its Seven Fundamental Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.
October 24, 1982:
Red Cross approves Blood Centers providing services related to tissues, paving the way for introducing its Tissue Services.
October 21, 1983:
Board of Governors approves expansion of Red Cross bone marrow program that leads to stem cell collection and distribution.
February 4, 1991:
Elizabeth Dole becomes the first woman president of the Red Cross since Clara Barton.
August 3, 1992:
First National Testing Laboratory, applying standardized tests to ensure safety of Red Cross blood products, opens in Dedham, Massachusetts.
April 19, 1995:
Red Cross aids victims of bombing of Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
November 16, 1998:
Red Cross opens an Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) Center with hi-tech emergency communications service for military.
September 11, 2001:
Red Cross responds to terrorist attacks by airplane in New York, at the Pentagon, and in rural Pennsylvania.
February 7, 2002:
Red Cross joins other groups to launch Measles Initiative, 5-year plan to eradicate the disease in sub-Saharan Africa by immunizing children.
Important Moments in the History of the Jefferson County OH chapter of the American Red Cross
April 30, 1917:
The Jefferson County chapter of the American Red Cross receives its original charter.
May 29, 1975:
The chapter appeals for donations to assist Southeast Asian refugees at Indiantown Gap, PA. Refugees were in Indiantown Gap, PA due to the ongoing conflict in Vietnam as North Vietnam was still fighting South Vietnam.
January 14 (?), 1976:
The chapter responds to a fire at the Imperial Hotel leaving 44 people without a place to stay. The chapter opened shelters at the YMCA and the Plaza Hotel and provided meals for fire victims.
March 1, 1976:
Chapter begins its blood program with Robert Bowers as its coordinator and with the cooperation of the Beaver Valley Regional Blood Center.
March 2, 1976:
Chapter makes an appeal to the community to assist victims of the 1976 Central American earthquake.
March 2, 1976:
Chapter, along with the Beaver Valley Regional Blood Center makes Jefferson County a 'total-blood-supply' county. This means that every citizen of Jefferson County is now entitled to all the free blood they may need, regardless of where they might be in the world.
March (?), 1976:
Chapter opens its first course on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
March 14, 1976:
Chapter purchases its first manikan, known as a 'resusci-Anne', to aid in the delivery of its new class on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR classes have since become a main focus of the Red Cross and have assisted people in the saving of thousands of lives.
May 28, 1976:
Chapter is asked to raise $1,820 to aid Typhoon Pamela victims on Guam and the surrounding areas. This typhoon affected more than 13,000 people and 29 Red Cross shelters were opened on the small island.
July 2, 1976:
Chapter begins offering "To-Swim" classes in conjunction with life-saving classes. This began a county-wide effort that included different sites throughout the county. The chapter offers lifeguarding classes to this day.
Mid-April, 1979:
Chapter sends relief workers down to Mississippi to assist with terrible flooding of the Mississippi River that affected tens of thousands of people.
October 27, 1979:
Chapter volunteer, Mrs. James Bedortha, creates a slide show which lasts 15 minutes and highlights the many services the chapter provides. This show is presented to various community organizations to show the importance of the work the chapter does.
February 20, 1979:
Chapter enters into an agreement with Jefferson Technical College to begin teaching a course as a night class in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
March 9, 1984:
Due to an increased demand for blood and blood products throughout Jefferson County, the chapter moves to increase its bloodmobile schedule demonstrating a commitment of service for the people throughout the county.
April 15, 1984:
Chapter receives a certificate of excellence for its work and contributions to the 1983 National Disaster Campaign.
October 24, 1984:
For the first time in its 67 year history, the chapter is visited by the American Red Cross National President, Richard F. Schubert, who speaks at the annual volunteer recognition dinner.
November 1984:
Local bloodmobile at the University of Steubenville breaks previous bloodmobile record when 124 donors turn out at the blood drive.
November 1984:
Chapter raises $2,140.28 for a special African Famine Relief campaign conducted by the local chapter. The chapter estimated that $48.00 could feed one person in Africa for one year. This money was then sent to the League of Red Cross Societies in Africa.
September 1984:
Red Cross issues a national appeal to raise money for the more than 400 families affected by flooding in Pennsylvania and Maryland during early August. This Chapter raises $2,375.00.
April 11, 1985:
Letitia Louer, who served as Executive Director of the Jefferson County chapter from 1951 until her retirement in 1973, passes away. Ms. Louer began her career as a volunteer in 1945 and helped see the chapter through 3 wars.
March 3, 1985:
Red Cross starts testing donated blood for the HIV virus, the virus known to cause AIDS. This affects all residents in the county, since Jefferson County Red Cross is the only supplier of all the blood throughout the county for county residents.
1985:
Jefferson County Red Cross blood program celebrates its tenth year in service.
1987:
The chapter celebrates 70 years of serving the community. During this time, it has grown to incorporate a blood program for all people in Jefferson County, a successful Learn-to-Swim program, and has begun to lead the way in First Aid and CPR classes.
January 1987:
Local chapter responds during a water crisis by providing food and personal supplies for the National Guard members and workers at the City Building and Filtration Plant.
January 25, 1988:
Chapter, with the help of KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, airs, in its entirety, a Red Cross produced AIDS video entitled "A Letter from Brian." This video is designed to seperate the facts from the myths about AIDS and how it is transmitted.
May 21, 1988:
Chapter presents first aid training and demonstrates the basics of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to elementary students in Buena Vista and Roosevelt Schools.
1995:
Jefferson County Chapter is rechartered as a chapter after meeting all of the requirements of the National Charter.
May 2001:
The local area is hit by massive flooding resulting in a federal disaster declaration. When all is totalled, over $3.3 million is awarded in housing grants to 1,601 households by FEMA, and the Red Cross raises over $6 million dollars in flood relief. It is estimated that over 5,500 local families are affected.
September 11, 2001:
Local chapter joins with the rest of the Red Cross and responds to the terrorist bombings in New York City, Washington D.C., and Western Pennsylvania. The chapter sent two disaster volunteers. Barbara Harrah and Ron Stillwagon both responded almost immediately and worked close to or at Ground Zero. Barbara worked as a staff service nurse to ensure that volunteers were healthy enough to do the required work, and Ron worked in the Mass Care function taking food and water into the rescue workers who were working Ground Zero.
September, 2004:
Local area is hit by massive flooding from two back-to-back hurricanes, Frances and Ivan. This flooding causes record devastation throughout the northern and southern parts of the county and results in a disaster declaration for almost the entire state of Ohio, West Virginia, and parts of Pennsylvania. Cleanup took months with some areas still recovering. Chapter worked around the clock opening shelters, distributing cleanup kits and assistance monies to affected families.
July-August 2005:
Chapter begins its first annual Always Ready Camp for children for grades K-3. This camp focuses on Disaster Preparedness and Health and Safety Education with programs specifically designed for younger children. This first year saw moderate success, reaching 22 children.
