The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 1919-1997
08 Dec 2025
We are pleased to announce the acquisition of The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 1919-1997.
This acquisition strengthens the University’s longstanding commitment to furthering the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and also our role as a Northern humanitarianism powerhouse.
About the archive
This digital archive contains two core resources: The Central Registry comprises correspondence and reports exchanged by the League of Red Cross Societies from 1919 to the early 1970s. Digitised files cover topics such as League organisation, conferences, disaster relief, and aid to war victims, along with more specialised material on epidemic diseases.
The Non-Registry collection includes non-centralised material from International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent departments, alongside Coordinated Relief Bulletins and Relief Bureau Circulars (c.1940s-1980s). These documents report on the activities of both the National Societies and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and provide updates on ongoing disasters, specific needs, and appeals.
Relief Operations Bureau files
Additionally, the archive also provides students, researchers and academic staff with access to over 2000 files from the Relief Operations Bureau (1970s–80s) and Thematic Operational Files, covering major conflicts such as Vietnam, Korea, and the Middle East.
Access the collection
Access the collection via Library Search or see our Library Subject Guides for Humanitarian and Conflict Response, Global Development, Geography, History and Public Health.