The Red Cross or Red Crescent is a volunteer-led, humanitarian movement that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education worldwide.  This movement began in Europe in 1861, and now include member organizations with over 97 million volunteers, members and staff in countries across the globe.

In the United States the American Red Cross is counted on in emergencies like hurricanes, earthquakes, and other disasters.  This is an organization with a very good reputation for assisting people in need in the United States and around the world.

The Red Cross was brought to America by a woman named Clara Barton in 1881.  Her story is an amazing story both for her time and today.  American’s often learn about Clara Barton and her work when they are in elementary school.  I imagine many non-Americans have not heard her story.  Today I thought I would tell Clara Barton’s story here, in order to introduce you to an inspirational American woman, who some call an American hero, who died 100 years ago this year.

Clara Barton the youngest of five children raised in America in the 1800’s.  She became a school teacher at age 17 and even opened a free school, the first of it’s kind, in the state of New Jersey.  She became frustrated with teaching when she could not become the principle of the school she founded, because she was a woman.

After this, she moved to Washington, DC.  There she became a clerk* at the US Patent Office. She was the first woman to receive a clerkship in the federal government and to be paid a salary equal to a man’s salary in the same position.  When the American Civil War broke out in 1861 Barton wanted to help wounded** soldiers.  She first began this work in the city of Washington, DC, but later traveled to the battle fields where soldiers fought, bringing food and supplies to help nurse them back to health.

Helping wounded soldiers during the American Civil War is the work Barton is most known for.  It was brave and dangerous work.  Before her, no woman or man organized people to help wounded soldiers in the field.  Because of her bravery many people sent Barton money and supplies to help her help the soldiers.

After the American Civil War Barton traveled to Europe where she learned about the Red Cross.  While in Europe she helped create a hospital for soldiers fighting in the Franco-Prussian War.  She then returned to the United States to founded*** the American Red Cross.  Barton was the leader of the American Red Cross from 1881-1904.  She died in 1912 at 90 years old.

Clara Barton’s story is one of bravery and self-sacrifice.  She never married and always put other people’s welfare above her own.  This is all the more impressive given that she did this in a time when women in American were not given the same rights as men and she had to fight for respect because she was a women.

*clerk = a person employed in an office or bank to keep records and accounts
**wounded = hurt or injured
*** to found = to create or establish