Archives of the Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, 1914-2014

fonds

1914-2014

Textual Records, Clippings, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Paintings, Posters, Prints, Drawings, Architectural and Technical Drawings, Ephemera, Objects

1001262

The Australian Branch of the British Red Cross Society was officially formed by Lady Helen Munro Ferguson, wife of the governor-general, on 13 August 1914, nine days after the outbreak of World War I. Independent divisions were immediately established in each state, with the inaugural president of the New South Wales Division being Lady Edeline Strickland, wife of the state governor. The division operated initially from an office in King Street, Sydney, later relocating to larger premises at 215 George Street, with a depot in the basement of Sydney Town Hall. The state divisions were autonomous, with full control of their finances and programs, and for much of the twentieth century held primary responsibility for the delivery of Red Cross services.
The humanitarian principles of the Red Cross were initially directed towards assisting the wounded on the battlefields of both World Wars. In Australia, volunteer effort concentrated on raising funds and making and collecting goods to be sent to the front. Over the years, the range of services has broadened to include disaster relief and health and social programs including blood transfusion services and missing persons tracing.

References:
Australian Red Cross. http://www.redcross.org.au (accessed 15 September 2016)
The power of humanity : 100 years of Australian Red Cross 1914-2014 / Melanie Oppenheimer. Sydney : Harper Collins, 2014

In 2014, the Australian Red Cross Society marked its centenary with a “gift to the nation”, donating its archive and heritage collection to relevant public institutions in each state. The records of the New South Wales Division were donated to the State Library of New South Wales, with transfers to be made progressively, commencing in 2016.

This collection reflects the range of activities of the New South Wales Division of the Australian Red Cross Society, from the establishment of the first branches in 1914 until the Society’s centenary in 2014. It documents the work of the Red Cross at the state-based divisional level and also at local branch level. Included are committee minutes and other divisional records, branch records, photographs, art works, posters, clippings, objects, ephemera and publications.

SUB-FONDS 01
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, branch records, 1914-2014

SUB-FONDS 02
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, framed pictures and objects, 1914-2012

SUB-FONDS 03
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, photographs and scrapbooks, 1914-2012

SUB-FONDS 04
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, posters, collage, illuminated address and architectural drawings, [ca. 1918-ca. 2014]

SUB-FONDS 05
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, Voluntary Aid Detachment records, [ca. 1915-ca. 2010]

SUB-FONDS 06
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, records, 1914-2014

SUB-FONDS 07
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, records, 1914-[ca. 2003]

SUB-FONDS 08
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, records, 1914-[ca. 2003]

SUB-FONDS 09
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, memorabilia, [ca. 1914-ca. 2014]

SUB-FONDS 10
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, publications, 1915-2014

SUB-FONDS 11
Australian Red Cross Society, New South Wales Division, books, 1914-2014

Arranged into 11 sub-fonds based on consignments received.

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Copyright holder:: Australian Red Cross Society has assigned its copyright in materials in this collection to the State Library of New South Wales
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder