Iconography of the Red Cross Nurse
What caused this influx of volunteers desiring to be nurses during the war? At the time, nursing was a traditionally female role, and one that had been highly romanticized. Women were inspired by the actions and heroism of notable nurses like Clara Barton and Florence Nightingale. The iconography of the Red Cross nurse contributed to highly romanticized perceptions of nurses and nursing that often belied the harsh realities of war.
The above gallery contains a set of Red Cross posters that would have been prominently displayed in areas around Connecticut during and since the war. Each poster has a similar display and a similar message. All the posters urge the viewer to join the Red Cross, either as a volunteer or as a donor. In each poster as well, the Red Cross logo is featured predominantly. What’s interesting however, is the fact that all the posters above feature a woman clad in a Red Cross uniform, it is usually implied to be a nurse’s uniform. Portrayals of these nurses fall into one of two categories; the first category is that of the patriotic angel bravely standing tall. The first poster in the galley embodies this category perfectly, with the angelic woman in white swathed by the American flag. Others in the gallery also use similar positioning to depict the Red Cross nurse as the ultimate patriot.
The second category is that of the gentle, romantic nurturer. The last two posters in the gallery showcase this portrayal of the Red Cross nurse. The last one especially depicts a seated woman with two children, implying that the work of the Red Cross forms a legacy for future American generations. All the posters are patriotic to a degree, and they each utilize a romanticized ideal of womanhood and motherhood as an effective advertising tool.
These posters also cast aspersions on the Red Cross’ supposed neutrality. When World War I first began, the American Red Cross and indeed other Red Cross organizations across the globe deliberately maintained a façade of neutrality, setting up hospitals in enemy territory and treating patients from all sides. Yet, the mood quickly shifted, especially by the time the US entered the war. Participation in the Red Cross quickly became framed as the ultimate act of patriotism and the image of the selfless, brave nurse transformed into the ultimate ideal of the patriotic American women. The presence of these posters in Connecticut archives in addition to ads and articles published in American newspapers reveal the extent to which Connecticut women were subjected to this aggressive advertising.