Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
During World War II, the American Red Cross (ARC) instilled strict uniform requirements for volunteers. Uniforms were typically light blue in hospitals. Military welfare service members, who focused on food service, entertainment, and soldier welfare, wore light and dark blue, or gray uniforms. The ARC issued each member extra separates including skirts and blouses, with additional uniform components available for private purchase.
Marjorie Linder (1921-2004) served in the ARC from 1945 to 1947 as a senior staff assistant. The enamel doughnut pin, and patch on the right arm note her time as a "Donut Dollie" in the clubmobiles. The uniform jacket, made from a tightly woven wool gaberdine, is in the cropped closed-front style, an alternative to the traditional lapel-style jacket. Upon close examination, the skirt, also made of wool gaberdine, is a different hue of blue, and likely not meant to be worn together.
Linder enlisted into the American Red Cross out of Staten Island, New York, after graduating from Connecticut College. After the war, she earned a Masters degree from Boston University, and eventually moved to Portland.
About This Item
- Title: Marjorie Linder's Red Cross uniform, New York, ca. 1945
- Creator: American Red Cross
- Creation Date: circa 1945
- Subject Date: circa 1945
- Location: USA
- Media: wool, metal
- Local Code: 2001.311.001
- Collection: Costume collection
- Object Type: Physical Object
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- American Red Cross
- Military uniforms
- Red Cross and Red Crescent
- Women and war
- World War, 1939-1945--War work--Red Cross
- World War, 1939-1945--Women
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.
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