Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
May 22, 1983
By Betsy Ross Merrill
Vigo County Historical Society
Doughboys stored gear in Dorothy-bags
From the military collection, this treasure of the week is a small canvas drawstring bag called a “Dorothy-bag.” The bags were given by the Red Cross to doughboys to carry their personal possessions, such as comb, toothbrush, shaving gear, etc.
According to Carter H. Harrison in his book “With the American Red Cross in France, 1918-1919,” the first bags were made of khaki with a red cross sewed on the side. When this supply was exhausted, Red Cross women in Paris sent bales of bags made of flowered material, which the boys were as eager to get as the first ones. When the supply of these ran out it was discovered that it was possible to fashion five bags from one bed garment, of which there was a plentiful supply. One bag was made from each leg and arm and one from the trunk. Although white in color, they served the same purpose.
Who the “Dorothy” was remains a mystery to the museum. Does anyone know?
The World War I poster shown with the Dorothy-bag is typical of the war posters of the era. This one asks for 10,000 members by Christmas--”on Christmas Eve a candle in every window and Red Cross members in every home.”
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.