In the 1800’s, representation among women was rare and not necessarily a cherished thing. In a time where women were just starting to recognize their capabilities, and men started to cling desperately to their power, Ms. Clarissa Harlowe Barton, or “Clara,” as she preferred to be called, emerged as a beacon of hope, love, and devotion (Redcross). Throughout her lengthy life, Clara Barton worked toward the admirable goal of changing the world and healing all those who needed it. Clara Barton helped to shape the history, and unforetold future of America, by founding the American Red Cross, helping those in need to the best of her ability, and remaining today as an astounding symbol of female empowerment.
Ms. Barton was born in 1821 on Christmas Day – perhaps she was a gift to mankind as a whole (Biography). Even from her childhood years, she found herself taking care of people. After her brother David fell from the rafters of their barn, an 11-year-old Clara took care of him for two years before he was taken to a doctor who could help (Birthplace). Two years after that, at fifteen, Clara was inspired to start teaching – and did just that, even opening up a free public school in New Jersey. As a young woman, she had already accomplished more than many people would in their lifetime. In her thirties, Clara Barton moved to Washington D.C. to become a clerk in the U.S. Patent Office (Biography). She would never marry – she knew the limitations of women in her society and chose to keep herself free from obligations of children and housework (Wikipedia).
In the early 1860s, the Civil War began to rage through the states, and Clara Barton took it upon herself to help out again. This time, the scale was much bigger than an older brother ...
... middle of paper ...
... donors? And seeing what Clara Barton has done – everything she has done, from the beginning of her life to the last moments of it – how can anyone say that women are not equal to men in their power and their influence? Clara is not only a symbol of kindness, of determination, and of generosity; she is also a symbol of equality, she is proof that no one man or women is greater than the next, and that anyone, no matter how big or how small, no matter their sex or their race or their physical attributes, can make a name for themselves.
Clara Barton changed the world. She caused a ripple. She matters. Without her, it’s hard to say where the world would be, but it would seem a little dimmer without the presence of this astounding woman to remind people of their humanity and their humility, and the power that every person has the capability of holding in their hands.
Born on December 25, 1921, Clara grew up in a family of four children, all at least 11 years older than her (Pryor, 3). Clara’s childhood was more of one that had several babysitters than siblings, each taking part of her education. Clara excelled at the academic part of life, but was very timid among strangers. School was not a particularly happy point in her life, being unable to fit in with her rambunctious classmates after having such a quiet childhood. The idea of being a burden to the family was in Clara’s head and felt that the way to win the affection of her family was to do extremely well in her classes to find the love that she felt was needed to be earned. She was extremely proud of the positive attention that her achievement of an academic scholarship (Pryor, 12). This praise for her accomplishment in the field of academics enriched her “taste for masculine accomplishments”. Her mother however, began to take notice of this and began to teach her to “be more feminine” by cooking dinners and building fires (Pryor, 15). The 1830’s was a time when the women of the United States really began to take a stand for the rights that they deserved (Duiker, 552). Growing up in the mist of this most likely helped Barton become the woman she turned out to be.
From childhood to death Clara Barton dedicated her life to helping others. She is most notably remembered for her work as a nurse on the battlefield during the Civil War and for the creation of the American Red Cross. Barton was also an advocate for human rights. Equal rights for all men, women, black and white. She worked on the American equal Rights Association and formed relations with civil rights leaders such as Anna Dickensen and Fredric Douglass. Her undeterred determination and selflessness is undoughtably what made her one of the most noteworthy nurses in American history.
Clara Barton attacked many social problems of the 1800’s. From creating a free school, to being on the front lines helping soldiers in the Civil War, to creating the American Red Cross, Clara Barton was a humanitarian. She fought for what she believed in and because of her never-ending fight for people, the world is a different place.
After the war ended in 1865, Clara Barton worked for the War Department, to either reunite lost soldiers and their families or find out more about those who were lost . She also became a lecturer and crowds of people came to hear her talk about her war experiences. President and volunteered in Cuba during the Spanish-American war (Civil War Trust).In 1869 Clara Barton traveled to Geneva, Switzerland as a member of the International Red Cross. In 1880 the American Red Cross was created, the culmination of a decade of work by Barton. She served as the organization’s first president until 1904 and continued her tradition of philanthropy as a volunteer in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.Clara Barton passed away in 1912 at the age of ninety-one.Clara Barton decided to leave the American Red Cross in 1904 amid an internal power struggle and maintained of financial mismanagement (Civil War Trust). While she was known to be an autocratic leader, she never took a salary for her work within the organization and sometimes used her funds to support relief efforts. After leaving the Red Cross, Clara Barton remained active, giving speeches and lectures. She also wrote a book entitled The Story of My Childhood, which was published in 1907. Barton died at her home in Glen Echo, Maryland, on April 12, 1912 (civil war trust). Overall clara barton successfully helped many people in the war and did us a lot of
“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself” (Joseph Campbell). Clara Barton could be regarded as a hero because she went into several military battles during the civil war with a strong mindset to help the soldiers who were wounded and to provide supplies that were needed but scarce17.She was a woman of many talents who accomplished a lot but became best known for the founding of the Red Cross in America. Her humanitarian contributions and compassionate personality allowed her to connect with many people. As inspiring as Clara Barton was, she wasn’t born a hero but became one with the influence of her younger years. Clara Barton’s family life and personal struggles when she was younger, ultimately shaped
Stevenson, Augusta, and Frank Giacoia. Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross. New York: Aladdin, 1986. Print.
Almost all Americans have learned about the iconic people in American history including George Washington, Thomas Edison, and Abraham Lincoln. Although all of them deserve their recognition, they aren’t the only ones who have changed history. Many Americans, not just a select few, changed history and created the America we know today. One in particular is Clarissa Harlowe Barton, who went by the name of Clara. At the time Clara lived, women were still considered inferior to men. Throughout her work, she faced much sexism, but she worked past it and created a legacy for herself. Also occurring during her life was the Civil War, which she was a very helpful part of. Clara’s most well known achievement is her founding of the American Red Cross. In addition to that, Clara also established the nation’s first free public school in Bordentown, New Jersey, worked as a field nurse during the Civil War, and supported the movement for women’s suffrage. Barton has received little recognition for her efforts, but the work she did is still being continued today at the American Red Cross where they give relief to the victims 70,000 every year. By understanding her life and the work she did, people are able to realize the impact she had on the world, for it far exceeds that of which she is recognized with.
Clara Barton was born on December 25, 1821 in North Oxford, Massachusetts. Clara’s parents were Sarah and Capt. Stephen Barton. Her father was a member of the local militia and a selectman. She was the youngest of six children. As a young girl, Clara was really shy and didn’t have many friends except her siblings. She was just ten years old when her brother was badly injured by falling from a rafter in their unfinished barn. Clara then decided to nurse her brother back to health. It took three years for her brother to regain his health. This experience helped her overcome her shyness and was the first step to her medical career.
was made to help people in different difficult situations. Barton’s group also began helping people from disasters. She was the president from the association until 1904.
Barton became a teacher, working in the U.S Patent Office and was an independent nurse during the Civil War. She used up much of her life in the service of others. During the Civil War, Clara Barton was on a mission to aid the soldiers in any way she could. Barton collected and dispersed supplies for the Union Army. All through the Civil War numerous nurses were needed on the battlefield, Barton aided surgeons with many medical procedures. Clara was notorious for being very calm and resourceful as she constantly turned up with food and medical provisions just when they were needed, acquiring the title “The angel of the battlefield”. After the war concluded in 1865, Clara Barton worked for the War Department, helping to either bring together missing soldiers and their families, or finding out more about those who were missing (Clara Barton Biography). Clara Barton then became founder of the American Red Cross, serving several years as its president. Barton fixated on saving many lives; she was thought to always do more for another individual instead of helping
Clara Barton was the president of the red cross organization in 1904. Barton has dedicated herself to this organization. She nursed soldiers that had been wounded from the battle. According to barton she feels “ 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 ”. She was the president of red cross and no one was going to stop her from helping her people. Clara Barton was important to american history because she created the Red Cross Aid.
Clara Lemlich is a Russian immigrant girl who fights for equal rights, her own education, and for her parents to believe in her. Clara changes extremely from the beginning to the end of the story. She is timid in the beginning when she is living back in Russia, then becomes shocked when she moves to New York City, then is triumphant as she becomes more independent when she stands up for herself. If Clara didn’t fight for women’s rights, would our country be the same as it is
There are a lot of intelligent women all around the world, and some of those intelligent women are intended to go into medical school. Many people think men doctors are the ones able to handle strong things like being a surgeon or diagnosing diseases. According to the book, 100 Most Important Women in the 20th century, there is a struggle of women doctors and nurses succeeding in their profession and Virginia Apgar is one of those woman who went through this struggle. Clara Baton is another woman who is very inspirational and the founder of the Red Cross. A more recent inspiring woman is Dr. Roberta Bondar. Not a lot of people recognize the historical accomplishments and impacts of women as much as men’s accomplishments. All of these women made an impact in some way, and not everyone takes the time to appreciate what they and other females have done.
Clara Barton’s ‘The Women Who Went to the Field’ describes the work of women and the contribution they made on the civil war battlefield in 1861. Barton highlights the fact that when the American Civil War broke out women turned their attention to the conflict and played a key role throughout as nurses. Therefore, at first glance this poem could in fact be seen as a commemoration of the women who served in the American Civil War as its publications in newspapers and magazines in 1892 ensured that all Civil War veterans were honoured and remembered, including the women. However, when reading this poem from a feminist perspective it can be seen instead as a statement on the changing roles of women; gender roles became malleable as women had the
Under the sponsorship of the Grand Duchess and the International Red Cross, Miss Barton left for the city of Strasbourg, France. 1871, Miss Barton directed for relief work in Paris for six weeks, which helped established workrooms in Lyon, and also provided assistance in Belfort and Besançon. In 1872 – 1873, Miss Barton suffered from nervous exhaustion and temporarily lost her eyesight. October 1873, Miss Barton returned to the United States, but her nervous strain continued to creep up on her. Her condition worsened after her sister, Sally Barton, died. 1877 – 1881, Miss Barton really concentrated on educating the public and to support the American society of the Red Cross. She wrote and distributed the pamphlet, The Red Cross of the Geneva Convention. She met with President Rutherford B. Hayes to inform him about the Red Cross and enlisted the aid of friends to help publicize the Red Cross organization. May 21, 1881, The American Association of the Red Cross was formed. Miss Barton was elected president during a meeting, which was held June 9 in Washington, DC. August 22, 1881, the first local Red Cross