CHAPTER VI 

 THE TUBERCULOSIS CHRISTMAS SEAL 



THE compelling force of an idea is nowhere better illustrated 

 than in the history of the tuberculosis Christmas seal. The 

 seal grew out of one woman's interest in a small tuber- 

 culosis hospital in Wilmington, Del. From that original idea 

 and interest have developed the funds which have made the 

 tuberculosis campaign in the United States what it is to-day. 

 Starting with an initial sale of $3,000, the Christmas seal idea 

 has produced over $20,000,000, largely for the benefit of the non- 

 official local, state and national tuberculosis associations. 



It was in 1907 that Jacob A. Riis received from a friend in 

 Copenhagen a letter bearing on its back a peculiar seal. He wrote 

 to his friend for further information and then published an article 

 in the Outlook on the Norwegian tuberculosis Christmas seal. 

 In Wilmington, Del., Miss Emily P. Bissell with Dr. John Black 

 was struggling to maintain a tuberculosis shack of eight beds on 

 the banks of the Brandywine. As she read the article in the Out- 

 look, an inspiration came to her that here was a good way to 

 secure money for the tuberculosis camp. She interested Howard 

 Pyle, the famous artist, who produced an attractive design. 

 She then approached the Philadelphia North American, which 

 has a wide circulation in Wilmington and surrounding territory, 

 and secured its support of the idea. With Miss Bissell's en- 

 thusiasm and the Philadelphia North American's backing, this 

 initial Christmas seal sale produced the sum of $3,000. 



The success of this first seal sale gave to Miss Bissell the idea 

 of a wider extension of the Christmas seal plan. She had always 

 been an enthusiastic supporter of the American Red Cross and 

 at that time was secretary of the Delaware Chapter. She took 

 the matter up with Washington headquarters and found the 

 officials at first inclined to be unresponsive and fearful of ventur- 

 ing into a nation-wide Christmas seal project. Miss Bissell, 

 however, urged upon them the necessity for a peace-time pro- 

 gram and pointed out that interest was being aroused in tubercu- 



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