The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-12-15
SEAL DESIGNER
TELLS OF ORIGIN
Red Cross Stamp Born in
Delaware November
26, 1907.
PROGRESS WAS SLOW
Merchants Reluctant to Push
It; Demand Now Exceeds
Expectations.
BY MISS EMILY p. BIssELL,


Creator OF the Red Cross Christina,
SesL
In October, 1907, the tuberculosis
situation In Delaware was most mn
promising, a group OF doctors hat
started n small sanatorium on hOT
rowod ground In an out OF the way
place and were rapidly finding II
impossible 10 maintain. Tho Della
ware Red Cross desired Ia come "a
their relief. hut had no funds
There was very little knowlcdge
or interest in tho s,Ate about ubsr.
oulosis, and educational work wuA
vitality necessary
waa tho SECRETARY of The Della
ware Red Cross at that time, I had
read Jacom Riis'H article on tho
children'H Christmas hospital seal IN
Denmark, printed In the outlook of
July 6, 1907. THIS seal was Issued
TO maintain childrons hospital,
and had been allowed 10 he sold
through tho Danish portoffioe, II
raised SIfficoiut money 70 obtain
tho sanatorium. The idea came 10
me that the Red CroHs wns partly
q government agency, and therefore
the postoffice IN this country might
admit tho sale or Red Cross seal
At the same time the great power
OF the Christmas appeal seemed en-
tirely suitable In combination with
tho Red Cross. Moro than all,
realized the great educational value
OF tho penny seal which would
reach tho poorest az symbol OF
the fight against Tuberculosis.
made tho proposition OF tho
Christmas seal I'm our October 1907
meeting OF the Red Cross but thcre
q
Red Cross dues could not he di-
yerted to this. 20 ! found two friends
who were willing TO stand back OF
the project to the extent OF $40. and
armed with this guarantee, at a
special meeting of tho executive
committee at my homo In Whining.
ton, Del. on November -. 1907, II
~1s decided that Christmas seal
ne issued by tho Delaware Red Cross |
chapter and placed on the market
December 2. 1907.
This naturally left nttie time 10
get out tho seal. I skctched the
design. had Il put in shape by an
srtlst friend. and tho first order,
eew thousand only. w~s gfven to the
printers. Tho De,awnre Federation
Of women's clubs, Of whose social
service committee ! was chairman.
QUICKLY GVUHsN1itu dlb w wv ~~'''
and all Wilmington stores agreed to
sell Il for the Red Cross The Della
ware newspapers took up tho idea
With Enthusiasm, knowing the needs
OF tuberc,il loss work In this state.
then won't to philadslphlA. ana
obtained the Invaluable co-opcra-
ton OF Leish Mitchell Hodges OF tho
North Amerta Gan. whose name should
never be fsrBotten In connection
with the Christmas seal. Hc threw
the whole weight Of the Moth Amer
icrn In favor of the project In Phila-
deiphia IN well as wilmington.
willis I interviewed the Advertising
managers Of the large stores, ask
ing them since 10 many Whining
Ionians dealt With them, whether
lhey would not put tho seals on sale
por rp This was tho more nccos-
ary, - many DehwareAns did no
,hop ping at homa. but bought al
most everything IN the large Phila-
3eIphia storsa The advertising
were frankly incrsdu lous
pf anx sals. They told me that the
Dennison seals sold for cent. and
wore much prcttier than our humble