Image: Library of Congress
The First Meeting of the Santa Barbara Red Cross
The women of Santa Barbara started the Santa Barbara branch of the Red Cross in March 1917 during World War I. Apparently, many citizens here were not familiar with this group, so the local paper explained,
"The Red Cross is an international organization, a universal good Samaritan constantly in the service of suffering humanity, whether that suffering is caused by earthquake or flood, fire or accident, war or pestilence . . . The approaching war with Germany is serving now to stimulate interest in the Red Cross, and there is a notable timeliness in the activity of the Santa The Santa Barbara branch Barbara chapter, so recently organized."