About IFRC and its Library & Archives
Our History
Founded in 1919 in the aftermath of the First World War, the League of Red Cross Societies (the League) - today the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - was created to coordinate peacetime humanitarian work and to build stronger National Societies through cooperation, shared expertise, and mutual support.
The League was spearheaded by Henry P. Davison, Chairman of the American Red Cross War Council, who convened the initiative that led to its creation. Five National Societies were the founding members: the American Red Cross, British Red Cross, French Red Cross, Italian Red Cross, and Japanese Red Cross.
Over more than a century, the IFRC has grown into the world’s largest humanitarian network, supporting 191 National Societies before, during, and after disasters, crises, and health emergencies.
For a deeper look at the evolution of the IFRC - including key milestones, leadership, and major global events - consult our historical timeline and booklet (coming soon).
The three components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement:
• National Societies operate at the country level, delivering humanitarian services within their own borders and acting as auxiliaries to the public authorities of their own countries in the humanitarian field, and provide a range of services including disaster relief, health and social programmes.
• The IFRC supports and coordinates the work of National Societies, strengthens their capacities, and leads global disaster response for non-conflict emergencies.
• The ICRC works primarily in armed conflict and situations of violence, focusing on protection, assistance, and international humanitarian law.
IFRC Library & Archive Services
The IFRC Library & Archive Services preserve, protect, and make accessible the organizational memory of the IFRC, from 1919 to today. Our collections document the work of the IFRC, supporting transparency, accountability, and historical understanding.
Useful Links
• Secretaries General of the League / IFRC: Biographical notes on past Secretaries and Directors General.
• IFRC Historical Newsletters: Short monthly extracts from the Library & Archive Services, highlighting key moments in IFRC’s history (operations, governance, National Society relations).
• List of National Societies: Explore the directory of all National Societies -past and present - that form and have formed the IFRC network.
• World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: List of themes since 1953.
• Our Collections: Overview of the Library & Archive’s main collections (Library, Archives and Audio-Visual Collections).