Clara Barton

Hello, my name is Clara Barton. I was born on Christmas Day, December 25th, 1821, in North Oxford, Massachusetts. As a child, I was very shy, but even then, I felt a powerful desire to help others. This feeling became very real to me in 1833, when I was just ten years old. My older brother David had a terrible accident, and for two whole years, I was his dedicated nurse. I learned how to give him his medicine and care for him day and night until he finally recovered. That experience taught me that I had a purpose: to care for people who were hurting.

When I grew older, I decided to become a teacher, starting my career in 1839. I believed that every child, no matter their background, deserved the chance to learn. In 1852, I put this belief into action by opening one of the first free public schools in Bordentown, New Jersey. My little school was a great success, growing from just six students to over 600! However, the town then decided to hire a man to be in charge of the school I had built. They paid him more than me, simply because he was a man. I knew this was unfair, and in 1854, I decided to leave and find a new path where my work would be valued equally.

My journey took me to Washington, D.C., where I broke new ground as one of the first women to work for the U.S. government at the Patent Office. My life, and the life of the nation, changed forever when the Civil War began in 1861. Seeing wounded soldiers arrive in the city with so few supplies and so little care, I knew I had to do something. I began by collecting bandages, food, and clothing for them. But I felt a pull to do more than just send supplies from afar; I wanted to be on the front lines where the soldiers needed me most. After fighting for permission, I was finally allowed to go directly to the battlefields. During harrowing events like the Battle of Antietam in 1862, I brought wagonloads of supplies and tended to the wounded right there, amidst the chaos. It was then that the soldiers began calling me the 'Angel of the Battlefield.'

Even after the war ended in 1865, I knew my work was not over. Countless families were left wondering what had happened to their sons, husbands, and brothers. With President Abraham Lincoln's approval, I established the Office of Correspondence with Friends of the Missing Men. My team and I worked tirelessly, responding to over 63,000 letters from grieving families. Through our efforts, we successfully identified and located over 22,000 missing soldiers. This difficult but necessary work brought closure and a measure of peace to thousands of people across the country.

By 1869, years of constant work had left me completely exhausted. My doctor insisted I take a trip to Europe to rest and recover. However, my idea of rest was different from most people's. While in Switzerland, I learned about a remarkable organization called the International Red Cross. Its mission was to help wounded soldiers, regardless of which side they fought for in a conflict. When the Franco-Prussian War began in 1870, I volunteered with them. Seeing firsthand how much good they could accomplish inspired me deeply. At that moment, I knew I had found my next mission: to bring this incredible idea back home to America.

Returning home, I began the long and difficult task of convincing the American government to establish a similar organization. It took many years of persistence, but I refused to give up on the idea. Finally, on May 21st, 1881, my efforts paid off, and we founded the American Red Cross. I was honored to become its first president. I had a vision to expand its mission beyond wartime. I believed we shouldn't just help people during wars, but also during peacetime disasters like floods, fires, and hurricanes. I wanted the Red Cross to be a symbol of help and hope whenever and wherever people were suffering. For the next 23 years, I led the organization, helping people through countless disasters and establishing its vital role in our country.

After many years of service, I stepped down as president of the Red Cross in 1904. I lived to be 90 years old, passing away in my home in Glen Echo, Maryland, on April 12th, 1912. Throughout my life, my guiding principle was to help people in their time of greatest need. I am remembered today as the 'Angel of the Battlefield' and the founder of the American Red Cross. The organization I started continues my work, bringing comfort and aid to people all over the world, which is the greatest legacy I could ever have hoped for.