Visionary Leader, Clara Barton is Women’s History

Clara Barton, or Clara to many, is most known for being the founder of the American Red Cross. She is one of the most recognized women in history and was proud to serve and help others. Her love for helping others led her to become one of the most well known humanitarians in history.

Clara was born Christmas Day in 1821 in Massachusetts. She began an early career in teaching and later became the first woman in history to work for the federal government. During the time of World War I, she provided nursing supplies and care to soldiers in her area. Through her time of helping soldiers, she was deemed the nickname, Angel of the Battlefield. She continued to help soldiers even after the war up until learning about the Red Cross movement overseas in Switzerland.

In 1881, Clara officially founded the American Red Cross in 1882 to help serve thousands in this country. Barton served as the president of the Red Cross for 23 years before her retirement in the early 1900s. She died in her home in 1912 after years of service to all of mankind.