In September, I was privileged to visit the Red Cross Library with a small group from the Ephemera Society. I invited Jemma Lee to write a guest post and am very grateful to her for doing so.
The British Red Cross museum and archives exist to collect, preserve and make accessible to a wide audience the
history of the British Red Cross and its place in the context of the
international movement.
The collection comprises both archive
records and museum artefacts which have been generated and acquired by the
organisation from its formation in 1870 as the British National Society for Aid
to the Sick and Wounded in War, to the present day and our continuing vital
contribution in society.
In addition to official minute books,
annual reports, uniforms and medical equipment, the collection contains a
fascinating array of ephemera which serves to strengthen the evidence that we
hold of our humanitarian work and in many cases, to provide a personal element
to our story. Medals and badges awarded
by the Society demonstrate the role of the volunteer, whilst labels from
collecting tins and tickets for balls and galas provide colour and context to
our fundraising activities.
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| Poster, 1939. (C) British Red Cross Museum and Archives |
The poster
collection is particularly valuable in providing a visual record of our
services such as first aid and care in the home, with examples by Tom Purvis
and Charles Pears often proving to be very popular with visitors.
Other ephemeral items include Christmas
cards, stamps and packaging from products sent in food and relief parcels to
Prisoners of War. The latter subject is
in fact greatly enhanced by this collection, with menus, programmes and propaganda
leaflets, which are a valuable addition to the authorised documents of the Red
Cross and hence offer a source of unique information for researchers.
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| 0566/32 (C) British Red Cross Museum and Archives |
The website outlines the scope of the collections and there is an online catalogue through which the museum and archives can be separately searched through simple, advanced and expert search screens, often with digitised images, exemplified in this screen shot of a search for poster in the Museum collection.
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| (C) British Red Cross Museum and Archives |
There are also online exhibitions of photographs and ephemera, including an overview of historical posters.
Ephemera is used within the context of the larger
Museum and Archive collections to promote the work of the British Red Cross
internally to staff and volunteers and externally to answer enquiries. Tours of the collection can be arranged and
research space can be booked by appointment either by emailing enquiry@redcross.org.uk or by telephoning 020 7877 7058.
