Today in History–May 21–TPS-Barat features Clarissa “Clara” Barton, who founded the Red Cross on this date in 1881. A former teacher, Barton was working in the U.S. patent office at the start of the Civil War. Despite having little nursing training, Barton administered aid to soldiers at several battlefields, After the war she established the Missing Soldier Office in Washington, D.C., led effort to establish a national cemetery at Andersonville Prison, and, in 1881, founded the American Red Cross. Learn more about this tireless advocate for the nation’s soldiers and the American Red cross by investigating the primary sources and other resources linked to below.
Clara Barton, the “Angel of the Battlefield” Wise Guide
Clara Barton, Humanitarian 1918 book
Clara Barton National Historic Site brochure
Clara Barton–Clara Barton National Historic Site location map
Senate resolution authorizing Clara Barton to continue searching for missing soldiers
Keeping Track of Soldiers: 1863 diary entry
“The Women Who Went to the Field” poem by Clara Barton
Selected newspaper articles about Clara Barton
More Clara Barton historical newspaper coverage
Red Cross historical newspaper articles and advertisements
American National Red Cross Collection: Newly Digitized Photos Picture This blog May 18, 2017
U.S. legislation related to the Red Cross
American Red Cross website archive September 14, 2001 to December 12, 2002
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