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The red cross flag has been a reassuring symbol of humanitarian
aid in war and disaster zones since the late 19th century. The american
red cross was founded in 1881 by clara Barton.
a remarkable and compassionate woman, Barton
was a teacher and a clerk who dedicated herself at
age 40 to volunteer work. as a nurse in the Us civil
War (1861-1865), she earned the nickname “angel of
the Battlefield” as she tended the wounded in the line
of fire. after the war she traveled to europe, where
she observed the newly formed International red
cross. Back in the United states, she set up the
american red cross, serving as president until- Under her leadership, the organization
flourished. Today, there are nearly 350,000
american red cross volunteers nationwide.
The red cross
The International red cross was founded
in 1864, largely by swiss businessman henri
dunant. This voluntary organization aimed
to care for the sick and wounded in wartime,
no matter what side they fought on.
In 1870, clara Barton observed the
red cross in france during the
franco-Prussian War (1870-71).
she was so impressed with their
work that in 1881 she set up
a similar organization in the
United states. The american
red cross concentrated on
helping the victims of natural
disasters. In 1889, Barton and
her coworkers provided food
and shelter to thousands of
flood victims in Johnstown,
Pennsylvania (right).angel of The BaTTlefIeld
clara Barton witnessed the horrors
of warfare first-hand as a nurse in
Union army camps during the civil
War. she also set up an agency to
provide relief supplies for nurses
and wounded soldiers and lobbied
for the Us to sign the geneva
convention Treaty, which sought to
protect the wounded in wartime.red cross Today
The International red cross
and red crescent, as it is now
known, provides welfare services
in times of both war and peace.
These include ambulances,
blood banks, first-aid
training, and food,
medicine, and shelter
for refugees and victims
of disasters such as
floods and famines.TIreless camPaIgner
The american red cross grew
rapidly under clara Barton’s
leadership. Posters (left) drew
volunteers from all over the
United states and brought in
donations to fund the
organization’s work. Barton
worked for the red cross well
into her eighties. she also
campaigned for women’s
rights and prison reform.red cross In WarTIme
When World War I broke out in
1914, many thousands of people
volunteered to staff red cross
hospitals (left) and to drive
ambulances to carry wounded
soldiers from the battlefields.
The red cross also supplied food
parcels to prisoners of war and
forwarded letters between the
prisoners and their families.clara barton
1821 Born in oxford,
massachusetts.
1854 Becomes first woman
to work in Us Patent office.
1861-65 obtains and
distributes relief supplies on
battlefields during civil War.
1870-71 Volunteers as
independent relief worker,
franco-Prussian War.
1881 founds the american
red cross and becomes its
president.
1912 dies in glen echo,
maryland.early lIfe
Barton began teaching when she was 17.
she set up one of the first free public
schools in new Jersey. later, she became
the first woman to work in the Us Patent
office, where she took a job as a clerk.Clara
Barton
Find out more
civil war
lincoln, abraham
medicine
medicine, history of
Women’s rightsUS_064_Clara_Barton.indd 64 20/01/16 4:33 pm