Clara Barton

Clarissa Barton, called Clara, was born in 1821 in Oxford, Massachusetts. At a time when relatively few women worked outside the home, Barton built a career helping others. One of her greatest accomplishments was founding the American Red Cross. This organization helps victims of war and disasters.

Clara Barton taught school for many years. In 1854, she moved to Washington, D.C., and took a job in the government patent office. She was probably the first woman to hold a government job!

SERVING IN THE CIVIL WAR

When the Civil War began in 1861, Barton volunteered. She gathered supplies to help feed and care for wounded soldiers. She also served as a nurse. Barton possessed excellent organizing skills and knew how to get things done. After the Civil War ended in 1865, Barton took on the job of locating soldiers who were missing. She ran an office that tracked down information on nearly 22,000 men and contacted their families.

WORKING IN EUROPE

Barton took her organizational skills to Europe in 1869. She worked with the International Red Cross to set up hospitals during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) between France and Germany. Barton returned to the United States in 1873.

FOUNDING THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

The Red Cross was founded in Switzerland in the 1860s to care for wounded soldiers during wartime. Nations agreed to follow its policies on the treatment of wounded soldiers by signing a treaty. Barton spent years pushing the United States Congress to approve the International Red Cross treaty. In 1881, she finally won support for creating the American Red Cross. Barton served as president of the organization until 1904.

In 1884, Barton attended an International Red Cross conference in Switzerland. As a result of her efforts, the Red Cross expanded its activities. From helping only victims of war, it began also to help victims of peacetime disasters, such as earthquakes and floods.

A LONG LIFE OF SERVICE

Barton’s efforts comforted people around the world. Red Cross aid helped people in need during epidemics (outbreaks of disease), floods, famines, and war. Barton became famous for her work.

Clara Barton died in Maryland at the age of 91. She had spent her life helping others.