Running Head: CLARA BARTON AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 1

Clara Barton And The American Red Cross

Adam Sniezek

T.C. Schmitzer

September 22, 2015

Running Head: CLARA BARTON AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 2

It can be difficult to imagine a world in which there are no wars or natural

disasters; one where the people and natural elements are in a constant state of peace and

accord. Although these are atrocities that individuals do not always have complete

control over, those individuals do have an opportunity to alleviate the effects. Clara

Barton, who through recognizing the importance of and acting upon bringing aid to

natural disasters, brought forth the creation of the American Red Cross.

The Sanitary Commission, to which operated during the Civil War, was an

organization that aided military hospitals, soldiers, and the families of soldiers. Going

even a step further, independently of this organization, Clara Barton “[brought] supplies

to the front, [administered] first aid, [and cared] for the sick and wounded”, stated

professional historian and author, Foster Rhea Dulles (1971, p. 12). At the close of the

war, with over 143,155 unknown graves and thousands of letters flowing into the Capital,

President Lincoln called upon Clara Barton to locate over 80,000 missing men (Epler,

1917, p. 110-111). After four years of searching for the men and sending word back to

their families, Clara lectured around the nation on her varied experiences of the war

(Dulles, 1971, p. 12). Clara’s selfless actions both during and after the war quickly won

her national fame. Unfortunately, she became very ill and was ordered by her physician

to go “to Europe, where she [had to] stay three years”, as indicated by Blanche Cole

Williams, author, editor, and head of the English department at Hunter College (1941, p.

143). This was the moment that, even though seemingly negative at the time, was a

godsend in both the life of Clara Barton and the nation as a whole.

While in Europe, Clara would meet Dr. Louis Appia, a representative of the

International Convention of Geneva, also coined the “Red Cross” (Pryor, 1987, p. 156).
Running Head: CLARA BARTON AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 3

Being aware of her heroic ventures and fame in America, Dr. Appia, in addition to asking

for her service in the recently instigated Franco-Prussian War, also gave her information

and insight on the European Red Cross. Although she accepted to lend a hand in the

current war, Clara was even more intrigued by the European Red Cross, and the Geneva

Treaty to which it effectively operated under. She was most in awe that “although the

United States government had been approached three times, it had always refused to sign

the treaty”, according to Elizabeth Brown Pryor, historian, American diplomat, and

Foreign Service Officer (1987, p. 157). With her newfound knowledge of the Red Cross,

Clara Barton decided it would be her sole purpose to introduce it in America (Epler,

1917, p. 139). Thus would begin a journey that would last the rest of her life.

Upon the demise of the Sanitary Commission after the Civil War, an organization

based only on bringing aid to wars, Clara Barton quickly came to gather that the only

way to keep the American Red Cross intact, especially since America was in a state of

peacetime, was to not only aid in wars, but also to assist in “national calamities [such] as

plagues, cholera, yellow fever, devastating fires or floods, railway disasters and mining

accidents”, further stated Dulles (1971, p. 14). Not only did she release to the public a

pamphlet stating these intentions and information regarding the Geneva Treaty, but also

decided to form the American Red Cross society anyway, regardless of the formal

acceptance of the Geneva Treaty, in hopes that the society would prove itself worthy

(Dulles, 1971, p. 15). Overall, the decision to include providing assistance to natural

disasters would be one that cemented the positive favor of both the citizens and

government of the United States at the time.

Running Head: CLARA BARTON AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 4

Upon the advent of the American Red Cross, and with the creation of local

chapters around the nation, its first call to action was that of a Michigan forest fire. The

fire was so severe, it was reported that the heat of it could be felt seven miles from the

shore of Lake Huron (Pryor, 1987, p. 207). Clara immediately placed $3,000 of her own

money to the cause (Epler, 1917, p. 237). She also sent out a “broadside asking for

donations of clothing, food, household articles, and money”, as further stated by Pryor

(1987, p. 207). The American Red Cross initially pulled together nearly $3,800 and

various supplies from its Dansville Chapter (Pryor, 1987, p. 208). In addition, Rochester,

another local chapter at the time, also significantly contributed with $2,500 and 250

volunteers. Dr. Julian B. Hubbell was chosen by Clara to perform as a field agent, as was

Major Mark Bunnell, who was chosen to distribute supplies that were coming into the

headquarters at the time (Epler, 1917, p. 237). All together, the American Red Cross was

able to gather and distribute a total of $80,000 to aid the Michigan forest fire (Pryor,

1987, p. 237). This first act by the American Red Cross proved their good intentions and

abilities. However, little did Clara Barton know that this singular instance of relief would

seal the American Red Cross name into history.

In the same December that followed the Michigan forest fires, President Chester

A. Arthur, after catching an interest to the charitable deeds and practical worth of the Red

Cross, supported the Treaty of Geneva unconditionally in his annual address to Congress

(Pryor, 1987, p. 209). After the Senate unanimously approved it on March 16th, the

Treaty of Geneva was finally ratified in the United States, allowing the United States to

“join all other front-rank nations in the work of the Red Cross”, as further stated by
Running Head: CLARA BARTON AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 5

Williams (1941, p. 229). In turn, what Clara Barton had set out to do years earlier was

finally fulfilled.

The American Red Cross still continues today to serve nationally, as well as

internationally, among different wars and natural disasters under close relation to the US

government. It is difficult to tell when the American Red Cross would have been

established if it were not for the perseverance and selflessness of Clara Barton. More

importantly, it was with her realization of the importance of and acting upon bringing aid

to natural disasters that effectively interwove the ideals of the Red Cross into the quilt of

American Society. Clara Barton’s contributions to this country and the world still live on

today through the spirit of the Red Cross.

(Epler, 1917, p. 261)

Running Head: CLARA BARTON AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 6

Works Cited

Dulles, Foster Rhea (1971). The American Red Cross: A History. Westport, CT:

Greenwood Press, Publishers. (Original work published in 1950)

Epler ,Percy H. (1917). The Life of Clara Barton. New York, NY: The Macmillan

Company. (Original work published in 1915)

Pryor, Elizabeth Brown (1987). Clara Barton: Professional Angel. Philadelphia, PA:

University of Pennsylvania Press.

Williams, Blanche Colton (1941). Clara Barton: Daughter of Destiny. New York, NY:

J. B. Lippincott Company.
Running Head: CLARA BARTON AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 7

Bibliography

Dulles, Foster Rhea (1971). The American Red Cross: A History. Westport, CT:

Greenwood Press, Publishers. (Original work published in 1950)

Epler ,Percy H. (1917). The Life of Clara Barton. New York, NY: The Macmillan

Company. (Original work published in 1915)

Gladwin, Mary E. (1931). The Red Cross and Jane Arminda Delano. Philadelphia, PA:

W. B. Saunders Company.

Pryor, Elizabeth Brown (1987). Clara Barton: Professional Angel. Philadelphia, PA:

University of Pennsylvania Press.

Williams, Blanche Colton (1941). Clara Barton: Daughter of Destiny. New York, NY:

J. B. Lippincott Company.