“I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.”
—Clara Barton, nurse and founder of American Red Cross
About Clara Harlowe Barton:
Clara Harlowe Barton was an American nurse, teacher, founder of Red cross and a patent clerk. She never received any formal training in nursing, but she wanted to serve her country so she decided to help during the American civil war, she provided crucial, personal assistance to the men in uniform, many of whom were wounded, hungry and without supplies other than what they carried on their backs. She organized a group with other ladies to help provide supplies to the soldiers. In 1864, she was appointed by Union General Benjamin Butler as the “lady in charge” of the hospitals at the front of the Army of the James. It was a notable achievements at a time when women were not even allowed to work. Among the many titles she received she was also known as the “Florence Nightingale of America” or “Angel of the Battlefield”.
After the war she started working as a civil rights activist and also gave lectures about her experience in the war. It was during this time that she was introduced to Red Cross in one of her visits to Geneva, Switzerland. After returning to US she started a movement for introducing Red Cross in the country but faced a lot of opposition. Finally she succeeded during the term of President Chester Arthur using the argument that the organization can help with natural calamities other than wars. She spent rest of her life working with the Red Cross and helping people during natural calamities. After designing from there she founded National First Aid society.
She has also published her autobiography titled, ‘The Story of My Childhood’ in 1908. She was was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2008.
