CHAPTER HISTORY

The Chapter was organized on April 23, 1906, as the Hampden County Division of the Massachusetts Branch of the American National Red Cross. The chapter included the following branch memberships: Springfield (the county headquarters), Westfield, Longmeadow, West Springfield, and Chicopee. Hampden County Chapter grew from 126 members in 1906 to 50,000 members in 1918.

On January 23, 1922, Springfield chapter was authorized and received its charter from the New England Division of the American Red Cross. Springfield Chapter territory included Springfield, West Springfield, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Feeding Hills, Agawam, Mittineague, Hampden and Wilbraham.

The current Chapter territory includes the towns named above plus Brimfield, Granby, Holland, Holyoke, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, South Hadley, and Wales.

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. Civil War photo. Washington, D.C., 1866. Photographer: Mathew B. Brady.	World War I Junior Red Crossers demonstrate their patriotism in Weatherford. Texas, 1917. Photographer: Weatherford, Texas Democrat.
A Red Cross Public Health nurse greets her patient. West Virginia, 1934. Photographer: Lewis Hine.	A U.S. Army medical soldier administers Red Cross blood plasma to a wounded serviceman. Sicily, 1943. Photographer: U.S. Army Signal Corps.