From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, July 11, 1916: The formal organization of the Indianapolis Red Cross has begun! The American Red Cross sent word yesterday to major cities across the United States that local organizations should be formed without delay. While the recent sending of soldiers to the Mexican border has prompted this call for forming local Red Cross organizations to provide relief in case of any military exigencies, they may also be utilized for any emergency such as floods or epidemics. A committee headed by William Fortune hopes to do what no other American city has done in a day and that is to enroll 3,000 charter members by Thursday evening. The active campaign for membership begins immediately with the Chamber of Commerce sending out 10,000 letters to its members and application forms being published in the Indianapolis newspapers.