Clarise Barton

In 1869, she traveled to Europe.   In Europe she was educated about the concept of the Red Cross as outlined in the Treaty of Geneva and also by observing the Red Cross while traveling with volunteers serving in the Franco-Prussian War.   Twelve nations had signed the treaty, the United States not being one of those twelve.   She returned to the United States, rallied to have the United States join in this treaty, and vowed to establish this work in the United States.   Barton expanded the original concept of the Red Cross to include assisting in any great national disaster also.
Barton was the President of the American National Red Cross for twenty-two years.   Under her leadership, she adopted the framework of the Red Cross to fit the needs of the United States not only during wartime but in peacetime also.   The Red Cross's early work included aiding victims and workers in such natural disasters such as: the floods of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in 1882 and 1884, the Texas famine of 1886, the Florida yellow fever epidemic in 1887, an earthquake in Illinois in 1888, and the 1889 Johnstown, Pennsylvania disaster/flood.   Internationally, countries noticed and recognized the need for such peacetime assistance and in 1884 the Geneva Convention passed the "American Amendment" to include this concept.   The first wartime experience for the American Red Cross was in the Spanish-American War in 1898.  
Barton also was highly dedicated to fighting for and furthering the rights of women. She worked closely with Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, along with many other famously known women.   Barton herself was the most decorated American woman, receiving the Iron Cross, the Cross of Imperial Russia and the International Red Cross Medal.   Her final act was founding the National First Aid Society in 1904.   She retired as President of the American Red Cross at the age of 83 and spent her remaining years in Glen Echo, Maryland where she died from complications of a cold. Clara... [continues]

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