American Red Cross
(ARC)
. ..III. Uniforms
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-. Insignia
-. Service and Dress Uniform
Part I...Part II
-. Work Attire
-. Miscellaneous
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Miscellaneous

Headgear
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Visored Service Caps
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The ARC outdoor uniforms were worn with a visored cap made of the same material as the suits or coats. The caps had a self bow in the front with a Red Cross pin placed in the center of the bow.
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
On the left side: back view of the visored summer service cap
On the right side: front view of the visored winter service cap
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Visored Seersucker Service Cap
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Overseas Caps
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
.. Matching overseas caps were worn with the special ARC Military Welfare and Motor Corps outdoor uniforms. They were similar in design. 

Left picture from top to bottom:
Military Welfare summer overseas cap
Military Welfare seersucker overseas cap
Motor Corps winter overseas cap with green piping
Motor Corps summer overseas cap (which had no piping)
 
 

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The only cap that had a unique style was the overseas cap for the Oxford gray Military Welfare winter uniform. 

A pinstripe material was used for the sides, while a plain fabric of the same color was used for the crown in the middle.

A Red Cross pin was worn on the left forward portion of the cap curtain.

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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Military Welfare winter overseas cap
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Coifs and Veils
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The coifs matched the material and color of the indoor uniform with which they were worn. All coifs had a white coronet. A white square patch (one inch in size) with a red cross in the middle was sewn on the center of the white coronet. Nurse's Aides had a Red-Cross-Civilian-Defense patch (also one inch in size) sewn on the white front of the coif instead of a square red cross patch. 
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Left side: coif of the Hospital and Recreation Corps (Gray Ladies) 
Right Side: coif of the Nurse's Aides Corps
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Veils made of sheer fabric in a color matching the uniform (or epaulets) were worn with several work dresses. The veils had a white coronet with a red cross in the middle.
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Veil used by Members of the Staff Corps
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Veil used by Production Corps members
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Another veil variant used by Production Corps members
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Red Cross Handbags
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A matching cloth handbag with strap could be worn with the outdoor uniform.
The decision for using cloth handbags considered the needs and shortages of wartime conditions. Cloth was much cheaper and not rationed like genuine leather.
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Who's Who & What is What in the Women's Civilian Volunteer Organizations by Affilinated Aetna Life Companies, (ca. 1942/43)
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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In many wartime pictures, Red Cross members who served overseas wear plain black handbags with shoulder straps. They varied slightly in style and size. Probably, the leather handbags were preferred in overseas locations because they were more durable and
easier to keep clean. 
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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This named black leather handbag belonged to Red Cross member Elizabeth Aspinell who was stationed in Honolulu during World War II. (Note design similar to the official Army Nurse utility handbag.)
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Service Shoes

Female Red Cross workers wore privately purchased black or white shoes. Plain oxford- style shoes as shown below were most common. Note: Red Cross Shoes were a commerical product which had no connection to the American Red Cross Service. More information about Red Cross Shoes here
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Example of 1940s black oxford shoes 
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Example of 1940s white Oxfords made of buckskin 
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Identification Tags
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Red Cross Workers serving overseas wore special identification tags. The Army issued M-1940 plates were used. The imprinted information varied. However, all tags bore the individual's name, the service (written as ARC or Am Red Cross) and the blood type (O, A, B, AB). Additionally, it could bear the next-of-kin name, the address, the 5-digit ARC serial number, the religion (P for Protestant, C for Catholic, H for Hebrew, CS for Christian Science) and the date of the tetanus vaccination. .  
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
The Dog Tag of Clubmobile Worker Betty Grosser inlcudes her name in the first line, her service (ARC), her ARC serial number(44196), the date of her tetanus vaccination (T44) and her blood type (0) in the second line and her religion (CS) in the 5th line.
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Dog Tag of Elisabeth I. Beck, ARC 61209, O (blood type). The information imprinted on this dog tag is according to the way the Army imprinted their dog tags between March 1944 and April 1946..
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continue to:
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Insignia
Service and Dress Uniform
Part I...Part II
Work Attire
Miscellaneous
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[ I. Development ]..[ II. Facts about the ARC ]..[ III. Uniforms ]..[ IV. Sources ]
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