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Metadata
Catalog Number |
1976.1.0365a |
Object Name |
Uniform |
Date |
10/20/1948 |
Description |
This American Red Cross volunteer uniform jacket is single-breasted gray wool serge with rayon lining. The jacket is part of the winter volunteer uniform and would have been worn with a gray wool serge skirt (1976.1.0365b), a cream color cotton poplin blouse (1976.1 0365c), and a gray wool serge topcoat (1976.1.0366). Four 1" buttons are metal with early plastic coating, embossed with the Red Cross symbol in the center and the words American Red Cross around the edge. There are two hip pockets in front with button flaps; the right flap has a plastic ARC button, but the button on the left flap is missing. Around the neckline is a 2" collar and lapels. Epaulets at the shoulders are fastened with an ARC button. A 3 1/2" green ribbon is handstitched onto each epaulet and denotes motor corps volunteers. An ARC service patch is sewn an inch below the shoulder seam on the upper left sleeve. Ten red chevrons (1 3/4" L x 1 1/4" W) and two red bar stripes (1 1/2"L x 3/8" W) are hand sewn on the lower left sleeve. Each bar stripe indicates one year of service and each chevron indicates four years of service; these represent 42 years of service. A metal initial ARC pin is fastened on the left collar. There are also two bar pins on the left breast, which indicate years of volunteer Red Cross service. The first is a 1 5/8" L x 3/8" W ribbon bar pin. A Red Cross on a white background is at one end, followed by a red ribbon with eight narrow silver metal strips; each strip indicates 500 hours of service between 1940-1946. This pin represents 4,000 hours of service. Below is a year bar pin (1/3/8" L x 3/8" W), which is enameled on a gold metal background. The pin is divided into five sections, which are from left to right - a red section; a Red Cross on a white background; a gold star on a blue background; and another red section. It appears that this pin represents 35 years of service. Inside the right side of the jacket is a pocket with a 2/12"L x 1 1/4" W black label with gold letters, which reads "Smith-Gray / established 1845 / New York." The date of this garment is thought to be10/20/1948, which was printed on a tag sewn into the waist of the matching skirt (1976.1.0365b). Marjorie Randolph Van Wickle Lyon was a member of the Boston Chapter of the Red Cross during both WWI and WWII. |
Maker's Information |
Smith-Gray, New York |
Materials |
Wool/Rayon/Plastic/Metal |
Condition |
Good |
Associated with |
Marjorie Randolph Van Wickle Lyon |
Search Terms |
Red Cross Red Cross Uniform Volunteer Service Military World War I World War II Winter |
Catalog Sub-category |
Clothing -- Outerwear |