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 the 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
- Clara Barton Papers
- Clara Barton, Humanitarian 1918 book
- Clara Barton National Historic Site brochure
- Clara Barton–Clara Barton National Historic Site location map
- Clara Barton image set
- Senate resolution authorizing Clara Barton to continue searching for missing soldiers
- Keeping Track of Soldiers: 1863 diary entry
- Clara Barton, war lecture
- “The Women Who Went to the Field” poem by Clara Barton
- Selected newspaper articles about Clara Barton
- More Clara Barton historical newspaper coverage
- Clara Barton brief bio
- Clara Barton, the “Angel of the Battlefield” Wise Guide
- Clara Barton: A Memorial Day Story Library of Congress Blog May 27, 2019
- Clara Barton: “Angel of the Battlefield” Crowdsourcing campaign
- Crowdsourcing the Clara Barton Diaries? Let Miss Barton Come to Your Aid! Library of Congress Blog April 25, 2019
Red Cross
- Red Cross historical newspaper articles and advertisements
- American National Red Cross Collection: Newly Digitized Photos Picture This blog May 18, 2017
- Red Cross image set
- Red Cross films
- Red Cross sheet music
- Red Cross books and reports
- U.S. legislation related to the Red Cross
- American Red Cross website archive September 14, 2001 to December 12, 2002
- American Red Cross website
Speak Your Mind