The American Red Cross
Elizabeth Byrd Taylor became a member of the American Red Cross on May 23, 1923. She had to pass tests and abide by the organizations regulations in order to gain membership in this organization. The certificate appointing her to be an official Life Saving Examiner in the Southern Division, Tallahassee, Fl. was issued in Atlanta, Ga. These certificates were sent to Elizabeth via telegram that is inserted on page twenty-six of her scrapbook along with her certificate of membership and certificate of appointment.
Membership in the American Red Cross was popular in Elizabeth Byrd Taylors time at Florida State Women’s College because of the outbreak of World War I in 1914. The Red Cross credits this to be the reasoning they experienced dramatic growth occurring in just four years. The statistics of this increase in activity in their organization prove this expansion of the organization. The war led to the numbers of “local chapters jumped from 107 in 1914 to 3,864 in 1918”. The popularity of the Red Cross is shown in an excerpt in the Florida Flambeau Summer School Student Edition on Monday, July 1, 1918. This short call to action in the newspaper provides evidence of the involvement of Florida State Women’s College students on campus. These students have the desire to assist in war efforts and show support for Red Cross founder Clara Barton. According to this article, the Red Cross chapter in Tallahassee, Fl would knitt bags and garments to give to the United States Army in service to the military.
Elizabeth Byrd Taylor began her membership in the Red Cross in the year of 1923. At this time, Nazi Germany was in chaos and World War II was impending. Many women on campus at Florida State Women’s College were encouraged to gain membership to the American Red Cross because of this. Exhibits were set up in the Administration building, now the James D. Wescott Memorial Building, to showcase the benefits in joining the Red Cross organization. The benefits of membership are to “promote health, give character generation thru service, and promote international friendship…” according to an article from the Florida Flambeau published on Friday, June 24, 1932. This article advertised the exhibit and the National Red Cross representatives presence at the college.
The test in life saving has to be taken with a field representative of the American Red Cross first-aid present. The test is then sent to the headquarters in Washington DC to know who passed and is then eligible to become a Red Cross Life Saving examiner. The Red Cross representative gave the students courses in swimming, theories in life saving techniques, and even lessons on the dangers of fish, according to an article in the Florida Flambeau from Friday, April 4, 1930. A lesson plan for lifesaving as well as a ten-hour course is also required for the students that took the test. Elizabeth Byrd Taylor having received her Life Saving Examiner certificate is an impressive credential, as the requirements to be appointed this title are rigorous.
Works Cited
“Our History.” American Red Cross History, www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/history.html.
“R.S. Eaton Gives Red Cross Test to Twenty Five.” The Florida Flambeau, 4 Apr. 1930, p. 1.
https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/history-full-history.pdf
S., W. S. “Red Cross.” The Florida Flambeau, 1 July 19919, p. 1.
https://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu%3A119012#page/1/mode/2up
Florida State College for Women. XIII, Junior Class, 1926.