National Women's History Month - Clara Barton

Best known as the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton was born in Massachusetts in 1821. The youngest of five children, she was educated at home and began teaching at the age of 15. Her most notable pre-Civil War achievement was the establishment of a free public school in New Jersey.

In 1861, Clara lived in Washington, D.C. When the 6th Massachusetts Regiment arrived in D.C. after the Baltimore Riots, she organized a relief program for the soldiers, beginning a lifetime of philanthropy.

When she learned that many of the wounded from the First Battle of Bull Run had suffered, not from want of attention but rather from a shortage of medical supplies, she advertised for donations in the local paper and began an independent organization to distribute goods. The relief effort was successful, and the following year U.S. Surgeon General William A. Hammond granted her a general pass to travel with army ambulances for "the purpose of distributing comforts for the sick and wounded, and for nursing them."

By the end of the war, Barton had performed most of the services that would later be associated with the American Red Cross, which she founded in 1881. She retired in 1904 and died eight years later.

The American Red Cross is one of the largest non-profit relief agencies in the world. Red Cross volunteers are often the first responders after disasters, often driving hundreds of miles to provide supplies and support to victims.

Clara Barton saw a need, and responded with tremendous passion and compassion. She's one of the great women in American history.


(P.S. Thank you everyone who gave me words of encouragement yesterday. I'm feeling much better and much more optimistic. I'm giving myself the day off today, too--running errands and meeting my friend and critique partner Suz for lunch, and who knows what the afternoon will bring? But I really appreciate your kindess and support!)