This is a finding aid (or, description) of materials available in the La Crosse Public Library Archives. At this time, none of the materials listed below are accessible over the internet.
Contact the Archives to learn more about using these materials.
Guide to the American Junior Red Cross, Central High School Chapter (La Crosse, Wisconsin), Materials Related to Humanitarian Aid Sent to Pocking, Bavaria, Germany, 1949-1951; 2007
MSS 128
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Abstract
- A scrapbook and correspondence related to humanitarian care packages sent by the American Junior Red Cross Central High School students of La Crosse, Wisconsin, to students enrolled at the private Realschule in Pocking, Germany, just after World War II. Gifts given included food, personal care items and clothing. Later correspondence includes letters from German students seeking penpals in the United States. In 2007, Irene Barmore, a retired Central High School German language teacher and member of the La Crosse German International Relations Committee, brought a copy of the "thank you" scrapbook to Friedberg and Pocking, Germany, that showed life in the Realschule during the reconstruction period through the use of photographs, sketches and text.
- Collection Title
- American Junior Red Cross. Central High School Chapter (La Crosse, Wisconsin). Materials Related to Humanitarian Aid Sent to Pocking, Bavaria, Germany
- Date of Materials [bulk]
- Bulk, 1949-1951
- Date of Materials [inclusive]
- 1949-1951; 2007 (bulk 1949-1951)
- Creator
- American Junior Red Cross. Central High School Chapter (La Crosse, Wis.).
- Call Number
- MSS 128
- Amount
- 0.4 cubic feet
- Physical Description
- 1 archives box
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- La Crosse Public Library Archives
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], American Junior Red Cross. Central High School Chapter (La Crosse, Wisconsin). Materials Related to Humanitarian Aid Sent to Pocking, Bavaria, Germany, 1949-1951; 2007, MSS 128, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI
Historical Note
Shortly after the end of World War II in Europe, the American Junior Red Cross helped initiate correspondence betwen the private Realschule in Pocking, Bavaria, Germany, and Central High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Among the activities of this club was the preparation and mailing of Red Cross CARE packages and Chrstmas gift boxes to Europe. According to the 1949 Central High School Booster, a box of school supplies, sanitaqtion nees and sports equipment "to outfit a foreign school of forty children" was sent to the Rivate Realschule in Pocking, Bavaria, Germany. In 1950 a "thank you" scrapbook was recieved from the school as a reply to the gifts.
The following year, the faculty advisor received additional correspondence from some of the Realschule pupils who wished to have American penpals and explore the possibility of establishing a student exchange. The scrabpook and letters were kept by subsequent German langauge techers at Central.
In 2007, Irene Barmore, a retired Central High School German language teacher and member of the La Crosse German International Relations Committee, brought a copy of the "thank you" scrapbook to Friedberg and Pocking, Germany, that showed life in the Realschule during the reconstruction period through the use of photographs, sketches and text.
Scope and Contents
Historical materials include copies of newspaper articles and entries in the Central High School yearbooks that set the background of what the American Junior Red Cross chapter activities. A scrapbook and correspondence related to the humanitarian care packages sent by the students as a thank you. Later correspondence includes letters from German students seeking penpals in the United States. Lastly a file of photographs and copies of a Friedberg newspaper show a reunion of Realschule pupils and the meaning of the scrapbook.
This collection is a good example of humanarian aid organized by American youth to aid post World War II German youth in Bavaria and shows the hardships of education during the reconstruction period through the use of photographs, sketches and text.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
La Crosse Public Library Archives January 2016
800 Main St.La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601
(608) 789-7136
archives@lacrosselibrary.org
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron use.
Acquisitions Information
(Accession no. 2007.099) Donated by Frank and Irene Barmore, August 2010
Processing Information
Processed by Anita Taylor Doering, 2010
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- La Crosse (Wis.). German International Relations Committee.
Geographic Name(s)
- Pocking (Passau, Germany)--History
Personal Name(s)
- Barmore, Frank E. (Frank Edward), 1938-
- Barmore, Irene
Subject(s)
- Humanitarian assistance
- International relations
- Sister cities--Germany--Friedberg
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Historical background |
1 | 1 | ||
|
Correspondence 1949-1951 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Correspondence (photocopies) 1949-1951 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
Scrapbook 1950 |
1 | 4 | ||
|
Scrapbook (photocopied) 1950 |
1 | 5 | ||
|
German International Committee's reunion efforts 2007 |
1 | 6 | ||