Description |
The Weber County Chapter of the Red Cross began in December 1915 when a small group of individuals gathered to begin organizing a chapter of the Red Cross. In 1962, the name was changed to the Bonneville chapter, and in 1969, the chapter merged with other chapters in Northern Utah to become the Northern Utah Chapter, with its headquarters located in Ogden, Utah. The scrapbooks range from 1940 to 2003 and highlight some of the important work of the Red Cross. The books include photographs, newspaper clippings, and other materials. |
OCR Text |
Show Prisoners of War mittee Delegate in Canada, the German Embassy, and the Italian Embassy in Washington, has arranged to aid in the forwarding of funds and supplies for the relief of German and Italian prisoners of war and interned civilians in Canada. It is estimated that by June 30, 1941, American Red Cross assistance had already reached 400,000 war prisoners. Up to that time the American Red Cross had brought to prisoners of war relief to the value of $432,463.88, including chapter-produced supplies valued at $164,817.38. Repatriation of American Citizens At the outbreak of hostilities, the American Red Cross, after negotia¬tions with the State Department, appropriated funds to be used for the as¬sistance of returning Americans. Arrangements were made with the Amer¬ican Red Cross chapters in port cities to receive such Americans and provide emergency assistance. For the most part, those aided until December 1940 were persons who had definite connections in this country, and who required little assistance. With the fall of France, the problem of stranded Amer¬icans became acute, and American Red Cross funds were appropriated for temporary assistance and maintenance for persons planning to return to the United States. For this purpose grants were made to the State Department offices in Lisbon, Bilbao, Nice, Marseilles, Barcelona, and Paris. As a result of the large number of Americans in France unable to maintain themselves or to provide for their return passage, new plans were developed jointly by the State Department and the American Red Cross in 32 November 1940. The State Department agreed to provide funds on a loan basis for oceanic transportation to persons acceptable for repatriation as determined by the State Department. The American Red Cross agreed to pay for the maintenance in Europe of persons selected for repatriation by the State Department, and for their transportation from France to Lisbon. The program was administered by the State Department with assistance being given by American Red Cross representatives in France, Spain, and Portugal. This repatriation plan continued until the end of February 1941, by which time approximately 900 persons had been accepted for repatria¬tion. Repatriates under this plan were received by the Jersey City chapter, whose personnel had to be augmented for this purpose. Because many of the repatriates had no connections in this country, their establishment on a self- maintaining basis was extremely difficult. Through the national network of Red Cross chapters it was possible to give them assistance wherever it was deemed best that they reside. Following the completion of the joint repatriation program, the Amer¬ican Red Cross advised the State Department that the repatriation of Amer¬ican citizens was regarded by the American Red Cross as a Governmental re¬sponsibility, with respect both to transportation and maintenance. It was agreed, however, that the American Red Cross would continue to meet re¬turning Americans and provide such emergency assistance as might be re¬quired. Up to June 30, the repatriation of and assistance to stranded Americans required an expenditure of American Red Cross funds of $165,306. 33 |