Clara Barton was a nurse, a humanitarian, and an advocate for civil rights when women had no right to vote. Clara is primarily known for her work as a hospital nurse during the American Civil War and her contribution to America as the founder and the first president of the American Red Cross. Clara was also called Angel of the Battlefield for her gutsy abetment of the injured soldiers.
In American history, Clara Barton is one of the most honored women as she supported, fed, and risked her own life to bring supplies for the soldiers during the Civil war. She later contributed to the American nursing field and human welfare as the founder of the American Red Cross. As per one of her sayings, "The surest test of discipline is its absence," she demonstrated her goodwill and humanity even in one of the most extreme wars and chaotic times in American history.
The intense adherence to aiding others shown by Clara throughout her lifetime has resulted in enough achievements to commemorate her reputation for ages to come. Today let's learn more about Clara Barton and her personal life.
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Early Life, Family, And Education
Clarissa Barton was born Clarissa Harlowe Barton on Christmas Day of the year 1821. Named after one of the characters from Samuel Richardson's novel, Clarissa, the humanitarian was born to father, Stephen Barton. Her father was military captain of North Oxford who served under General Anthony Wayne's command against the Indians in the northwest. Clara's mother, Sarah Stone Barton, was a housewife and a mother of four.
Clara Barton was born in a family with four siblings. Her two brothers were David Barton and Stephen Barton, and her only sister's name was Dorothea Barton. Clara took her initial steps towards a nursing career as she nursed her brother David to health when he suffered a head injury after falling from a barn.
Though she was excellent in her studies, Clara was extremely timid and needed development in her social skills. Her parents sent her to school at three and later on to Colonel Stones High School, but her social skills got worse. It was only at the age of 17 she was confident and developed a caring personality as she started teaching in a local school.
Clara Barton served as a school teacher for 12 years in West Georgia and Canada. Her childhood with her brothers helped her handle school kids and assisted her in making new friends when she attended the Clinton Liberal Institute to further her writing and language education.
With a foot outside the life of shyness and timidness with her first profession as a teacher, Clara Barton's career gradually evolved into what she's renowned for.
Life, Career And Civil War
Following her education line, Clara Barton started working as a patent clerk, becoming the first lady to do so and with a salary equal to a man's. Clara got abused, demoted, and was eventually fired since she was a woman. After Abraham Lincoln was elected, she rejoined the patent office as the president to develop the women's reputation in government service.
After the American Civil War break in 1861, Barton nursed 40 victims, her friends, and students after the Baltimore Riot to health, paving her way into a nurse's career. Barton and several other women served and provided food and supplies to the victims in addition to emotional support. She then joined the Union soldiers in collecting medical supplies for the victims. Further on, Barton formed a group with volunteers and worked on the front lines to recover the injured soldiers from both the Union and Confederate parties.
Clara Barton served during the American Civil War. Image Source: Flickr.
Clara Barton ran the Office of Missing Soldiers in Washington DC after discovering thousands of letters from the war soldiers' families and relatives. Barton and her team replied to the tons of inquires, located thousands of missing men, and properly buried many fallen soldiers after getting permission to do so from President Lincoln.
The work Clara was involved in required her utmost commitment. The evergoing wars would generate victims, and Clara could not carve out any personal time amidst the reigning conflicts. As a result, Clara never got married within the 90 years she served on this planet. She didn't even have any kids but did have a romantic relationship with an officer of the war, Colonel John J. Elwell, in 1863.
Clara Barton's career in the Missing Soldiers Office came to a halt as she suffered from physical and mental exhaustion. She took a hiatus from her work there and founded the American Red Cross Society down the line.
American Red Cross
As a civil rights activist and a lady with kindness for those in need, Clara's mind prevailed with the thought of helping others even when she traveled to Europe for personal recovery. During her time in Geneva, Switzerland, Clara got in touch with Dr. Louis Appia from the Red Cross and discussed establishing the organization's American branch. After providing nursing assistance in the Franco-Prussian War, she moved back to the US. During President Chester Arthur's administration, she started the American Red Cross Society in response to war crises, natural disasters, and other calamities.
During Clara Barton's Presidency in the Red Cross, the organization changed its role to help the refugees and prisoners of the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Barton, through Red Cross, helped civilians all over the US. In 1912, while living in her Maryland home, which also served as the Headquarters of the Red Cross, Clara suffered from Pneumonia and died at the age of 90. Clara helped everyone who needed her aid but couldn't help herself in her final days.
All the assistance and contribution Clara Barton made for the US and other countries have made her one of the most renowned personalities in her work field.
Awards And Recognization
Clara Barton died on 12th April of 1912. Although she struggled for women's rights throughout her time and worked tirelessly to help others, those struggles did not end after her death. People influenced by her and the American Red Cross have been working ever since her death to follow what she left behind. Due to her massive work, people have named various schools and hospitals after Clara as a sign of respect.
There are more than 20 schools named after Clara in America. Similarly, there are more than 10 streets, parks, Post Office, Colleges, Hospitals, and many other places dedicated to and named after her. Likewise, there is a Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo, Maryland, where she took her last breath. Furthermore, Barton got inducted into the National Women's Hall Of Fame in 1973, and postage stamps memorializing Clara's work were published in 1995.
Trivia And Fun Facts
- Clara considered the soldiers to be her children.
- Clara taught people first-aid skills after leaving the Red Cross.
- Clara contributed a giant share of the money raised from her own pocket.
