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The Fall
Clara Barton had a brother named David Barton after a serious fall doctors had given up on the hope of his recovery. Clara did not. She spent the next two years as his nurse and restored his health. He made a full recovery. -
Free School
Clara Barton lived in Massachusetts where she followed her, family evoked, career as a young school teacher. In 1851 Clara was asked to teach at a school in New Jersey. Barton realized quickly that there was a lack of free public schools in the state and became an advocate for more free public schools throughout the state. In 1852, upon the approval of the town school committee, Barton opened and taught at a free public school in Bordentown, New Jersey. -
Women Discrimination
After Barton's free public school was opened she was rewarded with a male supervisor as principal and wages much lower than her male coworker. She took the initiative and moved to Washington, D.C. where she was employed at U.S. Patent Office. This position did not last long as again she was discriminated against for being a woman in the workplace. She returned to Massachusetts where she continued work for the U.S. Patent Office as a temporary clerk. -
Nursing and relief efforts
Barton's experience with the U.S. Patent Office paid off slightly. At the beginning of the Civil War Barton began to see the students she once taught fighting in this war and she knew she had to do something. She made many attempts to get permits to assist soldiers and give first aide on the battlefields. She was finally given the permit but it was restricted to a campground. Without regards to the permit Barton proceeded to the battlefields. -
Union or Confederate
With a history of discrimination, Barton did not believe in slavery or discrimination of any kind. When she took the battlefield to administer first aide she helped all soldiers. Her growing actions on the battlefields earned her the nickname "The Angel of the Battlefield" as she would write down dying soldiers last words. Barton provided aid and supplies in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Chantilly, Second Bull Run in Virginia, Antietam, the battle of Fredericksburg, and many more. -
The Missing
Towards the end of the Civil War Barton was granted a permit by President Abraham Lincoln to locate missing soldiers. She found 22,000 soldiers who were marked "missing". -
Europe
After the end of her duties in the Civil War Barton became ill. Her growing popularity in America refused to let her rest. Her physician recommended she go to Europe where no one knew her so she could stop working. This was a failed attempted. Many people knew her in Europe and she was introduced to the International Red Cross, which helped people injured in war. Barton stayed in Europe and worked for the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. -
Returning to the United States
After the war ended in Europe Barton returned to the U.S. She urged the U.S. government to join the International Red Cross. As she waited for an answer that would never come Barton began advocating for U.S. ratification of the Geneva Convention. -
American Red Cross
Barton founds the American Red Cross and becomes the first president. Barton wanted the American Red Cross to help all kinds of people who were victims of natural disasters, not just war victims. She eventually persuaded the International Red Cross to do the same. -
Fire and Water
Within the first four years of its founding the American Red Cross organized relief aid to the fire victims in Michigan and in 1883 organized relief aid to the victims of the Mississippi and Ohio river floods. -
Earthquake
As president of the American Red Cross Barton did not stop. In September of 1886 the Red Cross organized relief aid to earthquake victims, Charleston, S.C. -
Growing Relief Efforts
Barton supervised tornado relief efforts in Mount Vernon, Illinois. She also organized Red Cross relief aid to the victims of yellow fever in Jacksonville, Florida. -
Russia
The Red Cross stayed true to Barton's expectations in helping everyone. The Red Cross organized relief for the victims of drought and famine in Russia. -
Hurricanes
This would be an event that would occur twice in Barton's presidency. The Red Cross organized relief aid to hurricane victims on the Sea Islands, South Carolina and again in 1900 with the hurricane and tidal wave in Galveston, Texas. -
Relief in War
This was a busy year for the Red Cross and Barton. The Red Cross assisted with the wounded after the explosion of the U.S.S Maine in Havana, Cuba on February 15th. Shortly after the Red Cross began organizing relief efforts in Cuba for the Spanish-American War. Also within the same year Barton published the book titled "The Red Cross". -
Typhoid Outbreak
Continuing to aid the sick Barton and the Red Cross provided supplies during the typhoid epidemic in Butler, Pennsylvania. This outbreak was considered the worst outbreak on american soil. -
The Resignition
After serving 23 years as the president of American Red Cross Barton resigns. In the following years she writes two books "A Story of the Red Cross" and "The Story of My Childhood" -
First Aid
Barton wanted to take her self-taught nursing knowledge further and inform those around her who wanted to help people as she did. She formed the National First Aid Society, which taught civilians how to administer first aid when health workers are not readily available. -
Clara Barton Dies
Clara died on April 12, 1912 in her home in Glen Echo, Maryland. She died of pneumonia. This is days before the sinking of the Titanic and one global disaster that would need the efforts and support of the Red Cross. -
Barton's Legacy
In memory of such a strong willed woman, Barton's Office of Correspondence with thte Friends of the Missing Men of the U.S. Army is rediscovered in Washington, D.C. Finally, in July of 2015 Clara Barton's Missing Soldiers Office Museum is opened to the public.