November 25-30, 1918
World War One was officially over and New York City was soaking up every minute of victory and Kate Roosevelt’s diary recorded it all. “The parade on Fifth Avenue was quite a celebration. One hundred and fifty pounds of scraps of paper, confetti thrown into the street. The clean-up bill was $80,000.00.” The war was over for the United States, soldiers were returning home and everyday life resumed, but for Europe it was not the same. It was left in shambles. Wounded soldiers still in makeshift hospitals, orphaned children and burned-out buildings were strewn throughout England, France, Germany and Belgium.
Soldier’s mother being given box to fill with Christmas gifts.
The war was over, but there was still lots of work to do. Kate and her daughter, Dorothy Geer were loyal Red Cross volunteers. “To see about soldiers’ Christmas boxes at the Red Cross Office. There were no boxes left. Fifty thousand orphaned soldiers had already been supplied by the Red Cross at the request of the government. These were filled at a shop and badly done. Very expensive, so the government asked the Red Cross to find private individuals to send five thousand more. Their names have not been sent by the government although there are plenty of people glad to undertake the job.”
Examining Christmas Boxes
To help the United States Postal Service get the packages to the soldiers in time for Christmas, the Red Cross sent volunteers to local post offices throughout the country. They created vouchers called “Christmas Coupons” and sent them to the soldiers still overseas. The soldiers made their Christmas lists on them and sent them home in time for their families to fill the boxes being given out by the Red Cross. This was what Kate Roosevelt was complaining about. When she went to the Red Cross to pick up boxes to fill, there were none left for her and Dorothy to fill.
Red Cross Workers at Post Office
I am sure the two resourceful Roosevelt women pulled some strings and in no time had their share of boxes to fill with the most requested items that included: sweets, condensed milk, tobacco, cheese, canned meats, tea, coffee, sugar, soup, shirts, underwear, soap, toothpaste, oatmeal, jam, canned vegetables, socks, towels, break, sewing kits and shaving brushes. All requests had to be approved by a commanding officer and before being sent overseas, gift boxes had to be inspected by the Red Cross. They could not weigh more than seven pounds and contain no fragile or sharp objects. It took two to six weeks for the packages to arrive.
Wrapped Christmas Packages
A United States soldier who would be still stationed in France during Christmas of 1918 wrote home, “Christmas will be almost here by the time you receive this letter so I will tell you all what I want. If it is possible, I should very much like a box of good things to eat. Let Molly make a few of her good cookies with nuts in them and have mother send a bottle of pickles or preserves. Than a little candy and a couple more tubes of toothpaste. Three or four pairs of sox. Heavy woolen ones and a few handkerchiefs. It may sound like a great deal, but really it doesn’t amount to much and it sure will help to cheer me up.”
A Welcome Delivery
These requests seemed so simple. Most of them asked for what seemed just the bare necessities, some sweets, warm clothing and a taste of home and I could only imagine what went into the care packages Kate Roosevelt assembled and sent from New York. Maybe some chocolate candy from Schrafft’s at 61 Fifth Avenue; handkerchiefs from Brooks Brothers on Madison Avenue and woolen socks from the sports department at Macy’s on 34th Street.
Sharon Hazard’s Dowager’s Diary appears on Thursday.
On WAT-CAST, listen to Sharon talk about the series.
Photo One:
Post Card
Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Photo Two:
Soldier’s mother being given box to fill with Christmas gifts
National Archives
Photo Three:
Examining Christmas Boxes
National Archives
Photo Four:
Red Cross Workers at Post Office
National Archives
Photo Five:
Wrapped Christmas Packages
National Archives
Photo Six:
A Welcome Delivery
National Archives
