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By the People Bulletin

 

Clara Barton August Challenge Week 3 

Huzzah! Volunteers have finished up another fantastic week of transcribing and reviewing Clara Barton's Red Cross File. We completed 418 pages and saved 730 transcriptions this week! But there is still more to do - jump into the file and help review a transcription to mark as complete. 

The Red Cross File contains letters from hundreds of women offering their funds, labor, supplies, and time to Clara Barton and the Red Cross to help the sufferers of various natural disasters. In 1900, a devastating hurricane hit Galveston, TX, killing thousands of people and destroying thousands of buildings. Outpourings of support flowed into the Red Cross offices from all over the country - including from Mrs M.E. Stone of Upper Alton, IL who offered her sewing machine to the effort and Mrs Asa Traver, President of the Woman's Home Missionary Society of Clyde, NY, sending a barrel of clothing and bedding collected by the women of her community. These letters are representative of the many from individuals and communities of women who marshalled their resources to help fellow Americans in crisis.

The transcriptions in the Galveston files need review, which is the crucial final step in completing these pages. Registered volunteers compare the transcription to the original image to ensure that it is complete and accurate. Learn more about the Galveston relief efforts and help make these pages more accessible for all! 

Transcribing Hour, August 26 from 3-4pm EDT 

Join us next week on Tuesday, August 26 for a virtual Transcribing Hour for 3-4pm EDT! We'll be online for an hour to transcribe and review Clara Barton's Red Cross File together. There is no set program - the plan is to transcribe together and share insights and questions along the way. Register for a link to the session.

 

Best wishes,

Abby, Carlyn, and Lauren