Clara Barton – A Famous Nurse of History
Replayed from an early 1960s era comic book
Here is a short writeup about Clara Barton, a famous nurse of history. During the Civil War Sara was one of the few women of her time who treated the wounded right at the scene of battle. She often risked her life in those days when doctors and nurses were shot at by the enemy.
Here is a case of comics reflecting life. Read from the image to learn more.
Clara Barton
“Clara” Barton [Clarissa “Clara” Barton] (December 25, 1821 – April 12, 1912) was a pioneer American teacher, patent clerk, nurse, and humanitarian.
Historical nursing image of Clara Barton, circa 1902. Click image to enlarge.
At a time when relatively few women worked outside the home, Barton built a career helping others. One of her greatest accomplishments was founding the American Red Cross. This organization helps victims of war and disasters. Clara was never married.
Before her father died, Barton was able to talk to him about the war effort. Her father convinced her that it was her duty as a Christian to help the soldiers.
In the April following his death, Barton returned to Washington to gather medical supplies. Ladies’ Aid societies helped in sending bandages, food, and clothing that would later be distributed during the Civil War. In the August of 1862, Barton finally gained permission from Quartermaster Daniel Rucker to work on the front lines. She gained support from other people who believed in her cause. These people became her patrons.
After the war, she ran the Office of Missing Soldiers in Washington, D.C. in the Gallery Place neighborhood. Barton then achieved widespread recognition by delivering lectures around the country about her war experiences. She met Susan B. Anthony and began a long association with the woman’s suffrage movement. She also became acquainted with Frederick Douglass and became an activist for black civil rights.
Clara Barton National Historic Site
In 1975, Clara Barton National Historic Site, located in Glen Echo, Maryland, was established as a unit of the National Park Service at Barton’s home, where she spent the last 15 years of her life.
One of the first National Historic Sites dedicated to the accomplishments of a woman, it preserves the early history of the American Red Cross, since the home also served as an early headquarters of the organization. The North Oxford, Massachusetts, house in which she was born is now also museum.
This work (comics and cartoons) is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.
