In March 1917, while World War I raged in Europe, citizens in communities throughout this country were anxiously searching for ways to support the men in uniform. Katharine Cotten Sparks had already assumed a leadership role in the cultural and community affairs of State College. As wife of Dr. Edwin Sparks, the President of the Pennsylvania State College, she automatically accepted the role of bringing together the forces of town and gown for humanitarian aims. She had a vision of a community committed to meeting the social and human welfare needs of residents through an organized emergency response agency.

As Chairman of the Women's Preparedness League, she scheduled a meeting on March 27 to be held in the Old Chapel of Old Main on the Campus to plan for the establishment of a local "Red Cross Society." Our Chapter Minutes Book indicates that the meeting was well attended. Katharine had invited Dean Arthur Holmes to address the audience. The minutes state that he "emphasized the fact that Red Cross service means helpfulness in all emergencies, and not merely in war times, and that its work is always constructive and never destructive."

By the end of the meeting, the State College Chapter of the American Red Cross had been organized, Katharine Sparks had been elected Chairman, membership dues had been established, and fifty-seven individuals had "signified their intention of becoming members." The new organization was officially chartered by the American Red Cross on April 30, 1917.

For the next two years, the State College Chapter concentrated on war time activities. In the Summer of 1917, volunteers collected magazines and shipped them via the Pennsylvania Railroad to soldiers who were guarding railroad bridges and tunnels. The Chapter also collected and shipped over 11,000 pounds of clothing to war torn area of Europe. The first War Fund Campaign, in June 1917, raised $1,780. The second campaign raised $7,942, far exceeding the $5,000 goal. The volunteers also made 54,526 surgical dressings, hospital supplies, and comfort kits for soldiers.

Katharine and her husband generously donated two rooms on the first floor of the President's House for use as Chapter Headquarters. Volunteers also constructed surgical dressings in other rooms of the house, working with such enthusiasm that the lint from the bandages supposedly clogged the gears on the grandfather clock.

Volunteer nurses from the Chapter also cared for residents and students during the influenza epidemic of 1918.

At the Chapter's second Annual Meeting held on October 9, 1919 in the Assembly Room of the Liberal Arts Building, Katharine Spark's letter of resignation as Chairman was submitted. It was time for her to concentrate on other activities within the community and on campus. Members present directed the Secretary to write a letter officially conveying "the regrets of the Chapter in losing the services so cheerfully and ably rendered" and assuring Katharine that "work so well begun would be continued until the need for it was over."

Ninety years later, the need for that work is not over.

This is a very exciting time in the American Red Cross and especially for the Centre Communities Chapter!

One of the first things we are doing is establishing the Katharine C. Sparks Society. In 1917 when Katharine saw the need for emergency assistance, little did she know that the "Red Cross Society" she began would grow to include all of Centre County and approximately one-third of Clearfield County. Our impact on the community is very significant. Last year more than 19,000 units of blood were collected; the chapter offered 701 classes and trained 4,723 individuals in CPR, first aid, aquatic safety, lifeguard training, babysitting, and use of the automated external defibrillator (AED). Imagine, where would this community be without the American Red Cross?