- unitid
-
{"value"=>"338368", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1861-1878", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1861/1878"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"I. Standing Committee records"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"5 boxes"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Creator history</p> <p>The United States Sanitary Commission’s Standing Committee, originally referred to as the Executive Committee, acted as a central governing body coordinating the activities of the organization. Formed in October 1861, it was relatively inactive until the summer of 1862. The Committee met regularly (usually several times a week, especially during the war) in New York City to discuss pressing USSC concerns requiring immediate attention. Its members authorized bill payments, supply purchases, and financial transactions; handled personnel appointments, leaves, and problems; passed resolutions of recommendations to the Army on sanitary matters; authorized the expansion or creation of new USSC offices, departments, and initiatives; and solicited and acknowledged major financial contributions. Working with the USSC’s general secretary, they established and revised Commission procedures such as reporting structures and scheduling.</p> <p>After the fall of 1863, the Standing Committee (generally referred to as the Board) held all the powers of the main USSC governing body (the Commission, which met periodically in Washington), during the intervals of its sessions. Original Committee members consisted of Henry W. Bellows, William Van Buren, Wolcott Gibbs, George T. (George Templeton) Strong, and Cornelius Agnew; Charles J. Stillé was added in October 1864. The Standing Committee was relatively inactive from 1871 to 1877, and had its final meeting June 4, 1878.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>Scope and content note</p> <p>Standing Committee records consist of correspondence and meeting minutes. Letters and reports received are mostly from USSC personnel in Washington, field departments, and branches, including some weekly reports from General Secretary J. Foster Jenkins. The correspondence touches on nearly all issues in which the Sanitary Commission was involved. These include donations of supplies and supply transport; financial contributions and the receipt of funds; special relief work, especially claims and soldiers homes; personnel matters such as salaries, employment, assignments, and resignations; activities in the field especially in the Department of the South, Western Department, and Department of the Shenandoah; branch activities, particularly in England and France; sanitary fairs; the work of the Historical Bureau and USSC publications; and the closing of the Commission and sale of its property. Other topics discussed include such medical issues as the transport of the wounded, health in the Army and conditions in hospitals, and the Army Medical Bureau. Some items concern the Geneva Convention of 1864.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1861
- keydate
-
1861
- date_end
-
1878
- date_inclusive_start
-
1861
- date_inclusive_end
-
1878