Evening star., 1946-03-18

l
private subscription, Miss Boardman
raised nearly 100000 for the
building.
Even though she dedicated the
building to "the heroic women OF
the Civil War; Miss Boardman
was farther-sighted than most. In
the face of criticism from male CO.
workers on the committee, she in
sisted on buying much more land
| than the building called for.
IF we ever have another war we'll
need that space for additional quar-
ters, she said.
Larger Building Needed.
Five years later she was vindi-
Gated, and there were four large
buildings and several smaller ones
in addition to the original. Miss
Boardman was too busy to say II
told you So" She was directing the
making of 371 500, 900 relief articles
during 20 months of the World War.
About the only honor not con-
ferred upon her was that of national
chairman, and she could have had
that from President Taft. When
the position was offered she said
she thought the public had more
confidence in male executives.
But in 1919 she accepted the posi-
ton of national secretary and held
1t until her retirement a little more
than year ago. On December IA,
1914, more than 1000 persons gath
cred at the Statler Hotel for a fare
well tribute. Henry A. Wallace told
her: Your eulogy is in the hearts
of every one"
Was District Commissioner.
In 1920 she exercised a womans
prerogative and assumed an exec
utive position-that of District Com
missioner by the appointment of
President Wilson.
Ever progressive, it was she who
suggested uniforms for Red Cross
workers. Eliot Wadsworth, acting
national chairman, said mo" but
that did not stop her. Miss Board
man carried the battle to the War
Department and in the great New
York war parade of 1917, the Wash
1ngton Chapter drew the crowds
plaudits on Fifth Avenue with their
smart uniforms and Sam Browne
belts. There the Gray Ladies were
born also, striking in vari-colored
| wells.
Organized 5000 Chapters.
She travelled over the Nation.
helping to organize the more than
5000 chapters which now give Red
Cross representation everywhere.
About this time, soon after Charles
Evans Hughes became chief justice,
he sat beside Miss Boardman at a
dinner party and talked of cyclone
which had hit three Southern States
the day before. He was amazed
at the speed with which Red Gross
rescue workers had reached the
scene.
THE Red Cross doesn't have to
get there any more" Miss Board
man smiled. 1T is there"
Another of her innovations was
the sale of Christmas seals for COM
batting tuberculosis.
Among the honors heaped on her
were honorary degrees from Yale,
Western Reserve and George Wash
ington Universities and Smith and
Converse Colleges. She was awarded
the Red Cross Distinguished Service
Gold Medal on retirement. In 1912
she was given the Cosmopolitan
Clubs Distinguished Service Medal
for 1941 for outstanding service to
her community"
Miss Boardman's social position
was established long before she be-
came identified with the Red Cross
The first Boardman arrived in New
England in 1886. She was a de-
Scendant of Gen. John Mason, an
Indian fighter; great-granddaugh-
ter Of Elijah Boardman, Senator
from Connecticut, and a grand
daughter of Joseph Earl Sheffield,
founder Of Schefheld Scientific
School At Yale