The iconic American Red Cross played a vital role in the Great War.
Italy relied heavily on their assistance and humanitarian aid, particularly during the latter half of the war, and many of the pictures are from there. All images are courtesy of the Library of Congress.
With a little optional musical accompaniment, from the soundtrack of The Third Man, the great Orson Welles film.
American Red Cross serves humanity Join! / / Lawrence WilburAmerican Red Cross in ItalyGondolier steers down a quiet Venetian canal with food and supplies from the American Red CrossMilan. Maria Danielis, a woman refugee, and her baby, Pietro, born at the American Red Cross Home for Refugees at Milan. This woman has lost three little girls whose fate is unknownRed Cross workersThis woman appears to have been an officer in the Red Cross. Location unknown.[African American Red Cross nurses] / Shubart, Princeton, IndianaAmerican Red Cross Colony at Spresiano. American Red Cross officer fitting shoes
They are! You surprised me though, Judy, I thought for sure you’d be looking at the items on the Red Cross officer’s desk. You’ve got such an eye for detail!
There are seven framed photographs of people she holds dear and many keepsakes she must love. She has her fist on an overflowing scrapbook and next to it is possibly a diary that she writes in by candlelight (one candle looks broken). I wish she would have closed that bottom drawer!
The music is superb. The multiple, paired strings of a mandolin give the music a unique sound.
“Danielis,” an Italian name not ending in a vowel but instead “is” reflects Greeks ancestry. That name and names like De Laurentis are the result of the Greek traders arriving as early as 8th Century. Greek communities exist today in Italy, commonly called “Griko People,” or “Grecanici” in the Calabria region.
One can’t avoid noticing the “Tchotchkes” on the desk of the Red Cross officer, e.g. the two candles holders. (One candle is broken and neither has been lit.) The sconce on the wall are also candle holders, not an electric light fixtures.
The photo of the “African American Red Cross” sends several messages for me, i.e. segregation was still practiced and the admiration of Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps the photo was taken on Lincoln’s birthday.
I wonder if the woman in the picture was a refugee from Greece? Her little son is so adorable. Re: the candle light fixtures, it’s a bit surprising they didn’t have gaslight or electricity by then, isn’t it? Probably it was an older building. Do you know I had looked at all the faces of the African American Red Cross nurses but my eye slid right over the picture on the wall. I didn’t even notice Lincoln!
old spirituals 
what a perfect tune for this post! I wonder what became of Pietro Danielis. What a sweet looking little boy!
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He is! He has a very lovable face.
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Those are such sweet little children. I hope their lives were good ones after such a horrendous war.
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They are! You surprised me though, Judy, I thought for sure you’d be looking at the items on the Red Cross officer’s desk. You’ve got such an eye for detail!
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The children just touched my heart and I didn’t notice anything else! I’ll have to check out the desk!
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😂 Curious what you’ll notice!
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There are seven framed photographs of people she holds dear and many keepsakes she must love. She has her fist on an overflowing scrapbook and next to it is possibly a diary that she writes in by candlelight (one candle looks broken). I wish she would have closed that bottom drawer!
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Wow, you outdid yourself, Judy! I noticed the pictures and the broken candle but not the open drawer nor the scrapbook! That takes an expert!
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The music is superb. The multiple, paired strings of a mandolin give the music a unique sound.
“Danielis,” an Italian name not ending in a vowel but instead “is” reflects Greeks ancestry. That name and names like De Laurentis are the result of the Greek traders arriving as early as 8th Century. Greek communities exist today in Italy, commonly called “Griko People,” or “Grecanici” in the Calabria region.
One can’t avoid noticing the “Tchotchkes” on the desk of the Red Cross officer, e.g. the two candles holders. (One candle is broken and neither has been lit.) The sconce on the wall are also candle holders, not an electric light fixtures.
The photo of the “African American Red Cross” sends several messages for me, i.e. segregation was still practiced and the admiration of Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps the photo was taken on Lincoln’s birthday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if the woman in the picture was a refugee from Greece? Her little son is so adorable. Re: the candle light fixtures, it’s a bit surprising they didn’t have gaslight or electricity by then, isn’t it? Probably it was an older building. Do you know I had looked at all the faces of the African American Red Cross nurses but my eye slid right over the picture on the wall. I didn’t even notice Lincoln!
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