At the outbreak of the Civil War certain individuals foresaw the need for an organization to relieve the suffering of the soldiers in the field.  One of these persons was Dr. Henry Bellows of New York City.  Dr. Bellows and a number of prominent citizens formed the U.S. Sanitary Commission.  The Commission, officially recognized by the Secretary of War in June 1861, was a predecessor to our modern Salvation Army and Red Cross.

    Many of the larger Northern cities had a headquarters for the Sanitary Commission.  Officers were selected by the Secretary of War and served without pay, as did the various committees serving under them.

    The humane practices carried out by the Commission were numerous.  They included distribution of relief supplies, equipping and staffing hospital ships and railroad cars, provision of food and the establishment of rest homes for the convalescing soldiers.  Food, medicine and clothing were supplied to prisoners of war held by the South whenever possible.

    It might be of interest to mention that during the Civil war almost 2 1/2 times as many soldiers died of disease as from shot and shell.  The Commission's sanitary inspections of camps and hospitals helped to reduce the spread of diseases.

    Obtaining the necessary funds to keep the Commission in operation was achieved by the holding of large fairs.  Sanitary Fairs, as they were called, were held in many of the major cities.  Not to be outdone, the Union League of Philadelphia proposed such a fair to the U.S. Sanitary Commission in that city.

    The Great Central Fair of Philadelphia was a result of the combined efforts of the sanitary commissions of the states of New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.  The fairgrounds covered Philadelphia's Logan Square in its entirety.  The main building, which extended the length of the block, was encompassed by smaller one-floor structures, and all were connected by corridors.

    The Great Central Fair was officially opened on June 7, 1864, with numerous dignitaries on hand to add to the gala of the event.  A horseshoe department, horticulture exhibit, and even a brewery were just a few of the items of interest viewed by the public.  President Lincoln and his wife were amongst the thousands of visitors at the fair during its 3 week existence.    With its closing on June 28th, the Fair had netted the Sanitary Commission almost $1, 046,000, and the proceeds were used to pormote the health, comfort and efficiency of the solder in the field.

    During the 4 years of war the U.S. Sanitary Commission distrubuted over $15,000,000 in donated supplies to hospitals, prisons, camps, etc., and handled over $5,000,000 in money.  The Sanitary Fairs served a very useful purpose, inasmuch as they acquired the necessary funds for maintaining the Commission.  Needless to say, without the Commission, suffering and deaths would have been more extensive during the Civil War.

    The following cities issued tokens for Sanitary Fairs: