SQ-08. (badge) American Life Saving Society c.1907 –  . Badge measures 2 1/8” high and bears the banner “SURFMAN” above the marking “AMERICAN LIFE SAVING SOCIETY”. In the center are red, white, blue enameled letters “A L S S”. Badge is pin back. No other markings noted. (VG+). $110.

The American Life Saving Society was organized in 1907. In March of that year, Philadelphia newspapers reported that the Society began in a small room in the Tribune building in that city. The society was the idea of Edward C. Brennan, a former Brooklyn Assemblyman and formerly General Superintendent of the U.S. Volunteer Life Saving Corps.

The society was incorporated to save life wherever possible on land and on water, and to prolong life by preventing disease and accident. The aims of the society were to not only save persons from drowning, but more. Also to save persons from fires, leaky steamboats, runaway horses, unsanitary conditions, factory machinery, etc. Citizens were to be taught by special squads of volunteers how to swim, how to pasteurize milk, stop runaway horses, detect bad smells, etc. Factories were to be inspected to see if machinery is a menace to humane life, steamboats inspected, etc. Medical Bureaus were to be organized with corps of physicians to teach first aid, hygiene, sanitation and resuscitation from drowning. They were to teach local firemen, police, teachers in schools, the National Guard and more. Some paid inspectors were to visit factories and steamboats, and organized life-saving crews were set up along the shorelines. Instructors were to teach swimming and how to manage boats. These efforts were to hopefully extend to other states and across the country. The organization was set up to include officers (Colonel, Captain, Commodore, State Superintendents, Quartermaster, etc.)

However, the U.S.V.L.S.C. questioned this organization. It turns out that organizer Edward C. Brennan, once General Superintendent of the U.S.V.L.S.C., resigned from that post when it was revealed that he was using his office there to sell mining stock and other securities. When a meeting of the Board of Directors was called and Brennan heard of it, he resigned, as did some of his people who were canvassing for funds for the organization.

Although I do not know how long this organization lasted, it may well be that it was short lived and that few such badges were ever issued.

We do know that the U. S. Volunteer Life-Saving Corps. did enjoy a fine reputation for over 50 years and extended into over 15 states. They were an early supplement to the U. S. Life-Saving Service in some areas, manning lifeboats and providing life-saving services on the coast and on inland waters. The Service maintained branches in 15 states where there were no stations of the Government Life-Saving Service or the Massachusetts Humane Society existed States where U.S.V.L.S.C. stations existed included New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Delaware, Maryland, and California.