{"value"=>"<p>The Pennsylvania Archives, 1861-1867, bring together the records of three USSC organizations working from offices at 1307 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia: the Philadelphia Agency, which was the operational office of the Philadelphia Associates who organized in 1861; the Women’s Pennsylvania Branch, an auxiliary organization established in 1863; and the USSC’s Canvassing and Supply Department, created in 1864 to coordinate fundraising and publicity among USSC eastern branches, including publication of the Sanitary Bulletin. Also present are records of supply and relief work conducted by USSC relief agents at Gettysburg and Harrisburg.</p> <p>Philadelphia Agency records document General Office administrative activities, including the operation of a large supply depot in Philadelphia; providing supply and relief services for USSC eastern operations, especially during major military campaigns; meeting the supply and special relief needs of the Army and servicemen in the Philadelphia area; and developing local support for the USSC. The Agency’s Special Relief Department distributed supplies to local Army hospitals and camps; assisted soldiers and sailors in need, especially those discharged and disabled; and established a post-war Soldiers’ Lodge. The Agency also operated a Bureau of Employment for discharged soldiers and sailors after the war. The Philadelphia Agency and the Women’s Pennsylvania Branch worked closely together to maintain the supply depot and to provide special relief services in Philadelphia. Branch materials document its efforts to collect and stock supplies from a large network of aid societies in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, for further shipment to USSC locations and for local distribution for relief purposes.</p> <p>Other record groups documenting USSC operations in the Philadelphia area are identified in the finding aid of the Pennsylvania Archives.</p>"}