What did Clara Barton do in 1850?
In 1850, to further her own education, Clara enrolled at the Clinton Liberal Institute in Clinton, New York. After a year of study, she moved with a friend to Bordentown, New Jersey. At the time, New Jersey had no free public schools, but with support from the local community Clara opened a free public school.
When did Clara Barton travel to Switzerland?
1869During a trip to Switzerland in 1869, Clara learned about the Red Cross movement, a European humanitarian effort to provide neutral aid to those injured in combat. Inspired by that cause, Clara volunteered with the International Committee of the Red Cross, providing civilian relief during the Franco-Prussian War.
What year did Clara Barton move to Washington DC?
1854In 1854 she moved south to Washington, D.C. in search of a warmer climate. From 1854 to 1857 she was employed as a clerk in the Patent Office until her anti-slavery opinions made her too controversial.
What are 5 facts about Clara Barton?
13 Things You Didn't Know About Clara BartonShe wasn't always called Clara. She was born Clarissa Harlowe Barton! ... She never formally studied nursing. Barton was a self-taught nurse. ... Clara Barton's missing soldiers office was re-discovered by accident. Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
Why did Clara Barton go to Europe?
In 1869, on the advice of her doctor, Miss Barton traveled to Europe for a much needed rest following her Civil War relief and search for missing soldiers. While visiting Geneva, Switzerland, she learned of the International Red Cross, a newly formed war relief organization.
Who began the Red Cross and why?
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement started in 1863 and was inspired by Swiss businessman Henry Dunant. The suffering of thousands of men on both sides of the Battle of Solferino in 1859 upset Dunant. Many were left to die due to lack of care.
Who started the Red Cross movement?
Henry DunantGuillaume Henri DufourGustave MoynierLouis AppiaThéodore MaunoirInternational Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement/Founders
What are 2 facts about Clara Barton?
Fun Facts About Clara Barton Clara loved all animals, especially cats. During the Civil War, Senator Schuyler Colfax sent her a kitten, with a bow around its neck, in appreciation for her work during the Battle of Antietam. Clara Barton was honored by parties on both sides for her work during the Franco-Prussian War.
Where did the Red Cross begin?
May 21, 1881, Washington, D.C.American Red Cross / Founded
Was Clara Barton on the Titanic?
No, Clara Barton was not on the Titanic. She died on April 12, 1912, at her home in Glen Echo, Maryland as a result of pneumonia.
How did Clara Barton found the Red Cross?
While Clara was in Europe, she was able to experience the mission firsthand during the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. As a volunteer for the International Red Cross, Clara helped distribute relief supplies to war-torn city of Strasbourg and elsewhere in France.
What is a famous quote from Clara Barton?
“I may sometimes be willing to teach for nothing, but if paid at all, I shall never do a man's work for less than a man's pay.”
What were Clara Barton's last words?
“Let me go! Let me go!” On April 12, 1912, at nine o'clock in the morning, Clara Barton spoke those last words "and the earthly life of Clara Barton came to its close." Barton's death was a tragic loss for the nation and the unfortunate event was covered by newspapers all around the nation.
What nickname did Clara earn as a nurse during the war?
When she could, she and other nurses would assist with medical care and provide comfort and food to the injured. Her actions earned her the nickname "Angel of the Battlefield." As the Civil War came to an end, Barton's desire to help continued.
Does Clara Barton have a famous quote?
“I may sometimes be willing to teach for nothing, but if paid at all, I shall never do a man's work for less than a man's pay.”
How many people did Clara Barton save?
22,000 menAt the end of the Civil War, tens of thousands of men were missing. With Lincoln's approval, Barton founded the Missing Soldiers Office to help families locate their loved ones. Of the 63,000 requests she and her small team received, they located 22,000 men, some of whom were still alive.
Why did Clara Barton's family relocate?
Upon her return, her family relocated to help a family member; a paternal cousin of Clara's had died and left his wife with four children and a farm. The house that the Barton family was to live in needed to be painted and repaired. Clara was persistent in offering assistance, much to the gratitude of her family.
Where is Clara Barton's home?
In 1975, the Clara Barton National Historic Site, located at 5801 Oxford Road, Glen Echo, Maryland, was established as a unit of the National Park Service at Barton's home, where she spent the last 15 years of her life. As the first National Historic Site dedicated to the accomplishments of a woman, it preserves the early history of the American Red Cross, since the home also served as an early headquarters of the organization. The North Oxford, Massachusetts, house in which she was born is now also a museum.
What was found in the attic of Clara Barton's office?
In 1997, General Services Administration carpenter Richard Lyons was hired to check out the building for its demolition. He found a treasure trove of Barton items in the attic, including signs, clothing, Civil War soldier's socks, an army tent, Civil War-era newspapers, and many documents relating to the Office of Missing Soldiers. This discovery led to the NPS saving the building from demolition. It took years, however, for the site to be restored. The Clara Barton's Missing Soldiers Office Museum, run by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, opened in 2015.
Why did Barton go to Colonel Stones High School?
Her parents tried to help cure her timidity by enrolling her to Colonel Stones High School, but their strategy turned out to be a catastrophe. Barton became more timid and depressed and would not eat. She was brought back home to regain her health.
How old was Barton when she nursed her brother?
When Barton was ten years old, she assigned herself the task of nursing her brother David back to health after he fell from the roof of a barn and received a severe head injury. She learned how to distribute the prescribed medication to her brother, as well as how to place leeches on his body to bleed him (a standard treatment at the time). She continued to care for David long after doctors had given up. He made a full recovery.
What happened to Barton in 1866?
Barton c. 1866. On April 19, 1861, the Baltimore Riot resulted in the first bloodshed of the American Civil War. Victims within the Massachusetts regiment were transported to Washington D.C. after the violence, which happened to be Barton's home at the time.
Why did Clara's mother ask Clara to play with her boys?
Her mother decided she should focus on more ladylike skills. She invited one of Clara's girl cousins over to help develop her femininity. From her cousin, she gained proper social skills as well.
Who is Clara Barton?
Stevenson, Augusta. Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1962.
Who examined Barton's daughter as a girl?
Barton’s family directed their painfully shy daughter to become a teacher upon the recommendation of renowned phrenologist L.N. Fowler, who examined her as a girl. She began teaching at age 18, founded a school for workers’ children at her brother’s mill when she was 24, and after moving to Bordentown, New Jersey, established the first free school there in 1852. She resigned when she discovered that the school had hired a man at twice her salary, saying she would never work for less than a man.
When did Clara Barton die?
Clara Barton died on April 12, 1912, at her home in Glen Echo, Maryland at age 91.
What did Barton do to help the community?
As the need for care and medical provisions grew, Barton gathered provisions from her home and spearheaded a campaign to solicit additional relief items from friends and the public.
What was the role of Barton in the Geneva Treaty?
Barton played an integral role in the passing of the “American Amendment” to the Geneva Treaty in 1884 which expanded the role of the International Red Cross to include assisting victims of natural disasters. But everything wasn’t rosy in Barton’s Red Cross.
Where did Barton take supplies?
After witnessing the sad state of battle-weary soldiers in Washington, D.C., Barton realized the greatest need for care and supplies was in the makeshift field hospitals near the front lines. In 1862, she received permission to take bandages and other supplies to a battlefield hospital after the Battle of Cedar Mountain in Northern Virginia. From then on, she traveled with the Union Army.
What did Barton wear during the Franco-Prussian War?
When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, Barton – never one to sit on the sidelines – wore a red cross made of red ribbon and helped deliver supplies to needy war-zone citizens.
What was Barton working for in the Civil War?
Civil War Service Begins. Barton was working for the Patent Office when the Civil War broke out on April 12, 1861. A week later, soldiers of the 6th Massachusetts Infantry were attacked by southern sympathizers, and the wounded flooded the streets of Washington, D.C.
What was Barton's job during the war?
Organizing an Unprecedented Letter Campaign. Whenever possible, Barton recorded the personal information of the soldiers she cared for. As the war progressed, she was often called upon to correspond with family members of missing, wounded or dead soldiers.
When did Clara Barton die?
Barton served as president of the organization until 1904, when she resigned at age 83. Clara Barton died on April 12, 1912, at her home in Glen Echo, Maryland. Her legacy to the nation— service to humanity —is reflected in the services provided daily by the employees and volunteers of the American Red Cross.
Where did Barton travel?
When her service to the Union soldiers was complete, Barton traveled to Europe. There, she became aware of the Geneva, Switzerland-based Red Cross, which called for international agreements to protect the sick and wounded during wartime and for the formation of national societies to give aid voluntarily on a neutral basis.
What was Clara Barton's job during the Civil War?
Clara Barton was working in the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, DC when the Civil War began. Like many women, she helped collect bandages and other much-needed supplies, but she soon realized that she could best support the troops by going in person to the battlefields. Throughout many major battles of the war, she nursed, comforted and cooked for the wounded, earning the nickname the “Angel of the Battlefield.”
How old was Clara Barton when she founded the Red Cross?
Portrait of Clara Barton, 1881. This portrait of Clara Barton was created the year she founded the American Red Cross. She was 59 years old. 8 of 15.
Where is the Clara Barton House in Maryland?
Montgomery County Maryland's first registered National Historic Landmark, the Clara Barton House, is located on a wooded hill above the Potomac River and Old Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. 15 of 15.
Where is Clara Barton's homestead?
Clara Barton Homestead in North Oxford, Massachusetts. Open to the public as a memorial to the "Angel of the Battlefield”, Clara Barton’s home is restored as nearly as possible to the condition when she was born in the west parlor bedroom. 3 of 15.
When did Barton close the Office of Missing Soldiers?
The office responded to 63,183 letters from families and located 22,000 men, Barton closed the Office of Missing Soldiers in 1869.
Who Was Clara Barton?
Clara Barton was an independent nurse during the Civil War. While visiting Europe, she worked with a relief organization known as the International Red Cross and lobbied for an American branch when she returned home. The American Red Cross was founded in 1881, and Barton served as its first president.
Why did Clara Barton resign from the Red Cross?
Clara Barton resigned from the American Red Cross in 1904 amid an internal power struggle and claims of financial mismanagement. While she was known to be an autocratic leader, she never took a salary for her work within the organization and sometimes used her funds to support relief efforts.
What was the name of the organization that Barton worked for during the Franco-Prussian War?
While visiting Europe, Barton worked with a relief organization known as the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–'71. Some time after returning home to the United States, she began to lobby for an American branch of this international organization.
Why did Miss Barton travel to Europe?
On the advice of her doctor, Miss Barton travelled to Europe to regain her health. While visiting Switzerland, she met Dr. Louis Appia, and, for the first time, read about the International Red Cross.
Who was Clara Barton's father?
Clara Barton’s father, Stephen Barton, died in North Oxford, Massachusetts. On his deathbed, he encouraged Clara Barton to continue her patriotic support for the Union. August 3, 1862. Miss Barton gained official permission to transport supplies to battlefields. August 9, 1862.
What did Miss Barton do?
Miss Barton developed an interest in the growing movement for equal rights among women and African Americans. August 10 - 11, 1863. Siege of Ft. Wagner, South Carolina - Miss Barton helped to establish field hospitals and distributed supplies following the failed assaults.
What was the first battle Clara Barton served in?
Battle of Cedar Mountain (Culpepper), Virginia - This was the first documented battle at which Clara Barton served in the field. Arriving on August 13, she spent two days and nights tending the wounded. Before leaving, she provided assistance at a field hospital for Confederate prisoners. August 28-30, 1862.
What year was Clara Barton in the Civil War?
Clara Barton Chronology 1861-1869 - Clara Barton NHS. The Civil War began with the firing on Ft. Sumter, South Carolina. Riots in Baltimore, Maryland - En route to defend the nation’s capital, the 6th Massachusetts Infantry was attacked by mobs of southern-sympathizing Baltimoreans as the soldiers marched across town.
How did Miss Barton lose her voice?
Miss Barton lost her voice while delivering a speech from fatigue and mental prostration. 1869. Miss Barton closed The Office of Correspondence with Friends of the Missing Men of the United States Army, having received and answered 63,182 letters and identified 22,000 missing men. September 1869.
How much did Congress reimburse Miss Barton?
Congress appropriated $15,000 to reimburse Miss Barton for expenses associated with her search for missing men.
Why did Barton travel to Europe?
In 1869, her search for soldiers complete, Barton's doctor advised her to travel to Europe to restore her health. While in Switzerland, she learned about the Red Cross organization that had been established in Geneva in 1864. In 1880 the American Red Cross was established, the culmination of a decade of work by Barton.
Who was Clara Barton?
Most people remember Clara Barton as the founder of the American Red Cross and an independent Civil War nurse. During the war she maintained a home in Washington, DC, but traveled with the Union Army, providing care and relief services to the wounded on many battlefields. The significance of the work she performed during and immediately after ...
What did Barton do when the army was at war?
As bullets whizzed overhead and artillery boomed in the distance, Barton cradled the heads of suffering soldiers. When darkness fell, she set up lanterns , also from her supply wagons, which enabled the army's medical personnel to work through the night.
What was Clara Barton's job during the Civil War?
Clara Barton was working as a recording clerk in the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, DC when the Civil War began on April 12, 1861. On April 19, 1861 soldiers of the 6th Massachusetts Infantry were attacked by Southern ...
What did Barton order the drivers of her supply wagons to do at Antietam?
At the bloody Battle of Antietam (September 1862), she ordered the drivers of her supply wagons to follow the cannon and traveled all night.
What was the name of the battle where Barton and her wagons were used?
Thereafter she was known as the Angel of the Battlefield. Throughout the war, Barton and her supply wagons traveled with the Union army, giving aid to Union casualties and Confederate prisoners - at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Chantilly, Harper's Ferry and South Mountain.
What did Barton do to help the soldiers?
In the midst of all this chaos Barton saw the need for personal assistance to the men in uniform, some of whom were wounded or hungry, others without bedding or any clothing except what was on their backs. She gathered food, medicine and other supplies from her own household to distribute to the soldiers, then solicited friends from Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey to send needed items.
Who was Clara Barton?
Clara Barton was there, an angel of mercy doing all in mortal power to assuage the miseries of the unfortunate soldiers.”. In her capacity as a nurse during the Civil War, Barton operated independently of all government or private organizations.
Who was Clara Barton's brother?
In Barton’s case it was her older brother, David, who was seriously injured in a fall during a barn raising. Clara was only eleven years old, but she took the lead in caring for him for two years until he had fully recovered. Those skills would serve her well when the Civil War broke out.
What did Clara write about her early nursing years at home?
Clara wrote about her early nursing years at home in a brief autobiographical sketch: “I learned to take all directions for his medicines from his physician (who had eminent counsel) and to administer them like a genuine nurse. My little hands became schooled to the handling of the great, loathsome, crawling leeches which were at first so many snakes to me, and no fingers could so painlessly dress the angry blisters; and thus it came about, that I was the accepted and acknowledged nurse of a man almost too ill to recover.”
What did Clara Barton do during the Civil War?
Clara Barton’s childhood home c. 1900. While the majority of Barton’s work during the Civil War entailed providing medical supplies and food to the hospitals on the battlefields, she did assist the surgeons on many occasions.
What did Barton's experiences in the Civil War teach her?
Barton’s experiences in the Civil War and in Europe taught her the necessity of providing nursing care and emotional support as well as supplies after natural disasters, and ensured that the Red Cross was able to care for the health and well-being of the victims as well as helping with food, clothing and shelter.
Did Clara Barton have any nursing training?
Clara Barton did not have any formal training in nursing. She, like many women in the nineteenth century, acquired her nursing skills by nursing a member of her own family.
Overview
American Red Cross
Barton achieved widespread recognition by delivering lectures around the country about her war experiences in 1865–1868. During this time she met Susan B. Anthony and began an association with the woman's suffrage movement. She also became acquainted with Frederick Douglass and became an activist for civil rights. After her countrywide tour she was both mentally and physically exhausted and under doctor's orders to go somewhere that would take her far from her current …
Early life
Clarissa Harlowe Barton was born December 25, 1821, in North Oxford, Massachusetts, and was named after the titular character of Samuel Richardson's novel Clarissa. Her father was Captain Stephen Barton, a member of the local militia and a selectman (politician) who inspired his daughter with patriotism and a broad humanitarian interest. He was a soldier under the command of General Anthony Wayne in his crusade against the Indigenous in the northwest. He was also t…
Early professional life
Barton became an educator in 1838 and served for 12 years in schools in Canada and West Georgia. Barton fared well as a teacher; she knew how to handle rambunctious children, particularly the boys since as a child she enjoyed her boy cousins' and brothers' company. She learned how to act like them, making it easier for her to relate to and control the boys in her care. After her mother's death in 1851, the family home closed down. Barton decided to further her ed…
American Civil War
On April 19, 1861, the Baltimore Riot resulted in the first bloodshed of the American Civil War. The victims, members of the 6th Massachusetts Militia, were transported after the violence to the unfinished Capitol Building in Washington D.C., where Barton lived at the time. Wanting to serve her country, Barton went to the railroad station when the victims arrived and nursed 40 me…
Post American Civil War
After the end of the American Civil War, Barton discovered that thousands of letters from distraught relatives to the War Department were going unanswered because the soldiers they were asking about were buried in unmarked graves. Many of these soldiers were labeled as "missing". Motivated to do more about the situation, Miss Barton contacted President Lincoln in hopes that she would be allowed to respond officially to these unanswered inquiries. She was gi…
Final years
She continued to live in her Glen Echo, Maryland home which also served as the Red Cross Headquarters upon her arrival at the house in 1897. Barton published her autobiography in 1908, titled The Story of My Childhood. On April 12, 1912, she died in her home at the age of 90. The cause of death was pneumonia.
Religious beliefs
Although not formally a member of the Universalist Church of America, in a 1905 letter to the widow of Carl Norman Thrasher, she identified herself with her parents' church as a "Universalist".
My dear friend and sister: Your belief that I am a Universalist is as correct as your greater belief that you are one yourself, a belief in which all who are privileged to possess it rejoice. In my case, it was a great gift, like St. Paul, I "was born free", and saved the pain of reaching it through years …