The Woman's Relief Corps was one of three auxiliary organizations of the Grand Army of the Republic (the other two being the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Sons of Veterans.) The national organization was formed in 1882, and by 1896 had 140,305 national members.
The Missoula Corps, corps number seven, was founded in 1903. Membership in the Woman's Relief Corps was open to all loyal women who had the desire to assist in perpetuating the principles of the group, who had never given aid or comfort to enemies of the Union, and who were at least 16 years of age. The corps had many goals, some of which were to perpetuate the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and all those who fought in the Civil War, to imbue the public mind with patriotism and conservatism, and to give relief, not only to relatives of Civil War veterans, but to any who needed it.
From the guide to the Women's Relief Corps (U.S.). Fred Winthrop Relief Corps, No. 7 (Missoula, Mont.) Records, 1904-1954, (Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)
