The Early Days of the Red Cross

Clara Barton retreated to Europe for rest after working nonstop during the American Civil War. The vacation became another opportunity to help those striken by war when Barton discovered Europe to be in the middle of the Franco-Prussian War. She joined relief efforts and learned of the International Red Cross, an organization to help victims of war. Believing in the organizations ideals, she promisedc herself to bring it back to the United States. It took years for Congress to finally approve the organization, and did so only when the missiona was changed to help people in times of war or natural disaster. The American people were done with war after the Civil War ended. But they soon realized the good the new American Association of the Red Cross would bring to victims of natural disaster.

After the Civil War, Barton’s doctors suggested she rest in Europe and retreat from her busy schedule of aiding and searching for soldiers, while heading the Office of Correspondence for Missing Soldiers.  The United States Congress allotted her fifteen thousand dollars to reimburse her for her money she spent to locate the missing soldiers.  In the congressional resolution,

Miss Clara Barton has, during the late war of the rebellion, expended from her own resources large sums of money in endeavoring to discover missing soldiers….Therefore…the sum of fifteen thousand dollars…to reimburse Miss Clara Barton for the amount so expended by her, and to aid in the further prosecution … and the printing necessary in the furtherance of the said object shall hereafter be done by the public printer.[1]

The cover of The Red Cross of the Geneva Convention: What it is by Clara Barton, a pamphlet detailing the ideals of the Red Cross and descriptions of how it would help people

Her sabbatical to Europe was far from restful, as Barton found herself aiding victims of the Franco-Prussian War.  She also learned of an organization that helped citizens in times of war called the International Red Cross, founded under the Geneva Conference. Officially, the International Red Cross was established as an allied organization of relief societies designed to help each other and citizens in times of need, specifically war. The arrangement allowed for “neutrality of all sanitary supplies, ambulances, surgeons, nurses, attendants, and the sick or wounded men, and their safe conduct, when they bear the sign of the organization, viz: the Red Cross,”[2]  creating a safe zone providing immediate help.  Barton stressed in early writings on the Red Cross, that each national chapter was independent from other nation’s chapters but the mission held them together and created a communication pool for laying out strategies and tips for helping people and to “embraces four principals, viz: centralization, preparation, impartiality, and ‘solidarity.’”[3]  The mission sounded very similar to the efforts that Barton had put forward during the Civil War.  When she returned to the United States, she petitioned the country to join the International Red Cross. 

Sadly, the United States did not agree with Barton, describing the alliance as unnecessary.  The Civil War was over, and the United States did not foresee itself participating in any more wars, so why be involved in an organization whose sole purpose was for war.  Disturbed, Barton kept trying.  In 1881, she petitioned Congress again for an American Chapter of the Red Cross, an organization that would help in times of war or natural disaster.  It was with the natural disaster clause that Barton succeeded, and May 1881, Congress created the National Red Cross, based on volunteer services, to help victims.  Barton was named President.

Barton helped in numerous efforts including epidemics, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, famines, and tidal waves.  In 1891, Barton established a warehouse in Glen Echo, Maryland to house her supplies.  She referred to the building as the Red Cross house.  In 1897, she made it her permanent residence and home of the office of the American Red Cross.  Five major international and American disasters occurred while Barton was living in Glen Echo, forcing her to pack up supplies from her warehouse to aid the struggles.  These disasters were the Russian Famine of 1892, the Sea Island hurricane and tidal wave of 1893, the Armenian massacres of 1896, the Cuban Revolution and Spanish-American War of 1898, and the Galveston Texas hurricane and flooding in 1900.[4]

As an effort in aiding disaster victims, Barton publicized the role of nurturer by standing up for the ideals of the Red Cross and helping people suffering from natural disasters or war.  The Red Cross was reflective of Barton in the sense that it was ready to help people in need through the principals of centralization, preparation, impartiality, and solidarity, principles she exhibited even before founding the Red Cross through her actions unifying relief efforts in the Civil War, developing warehouses for supplies, and aiding both Union and Confederate soldiers. Barton established centralization as president of the Red Cross and chief organizer of supplies and missions; when commands came from one front, it created a central force, more skilled and unified to face a challenge.  Likewise, preparation came from Barton’s control of the power and her ability to solicit aid.  American citizens were quick to help a woman who had been good to them during the Civil War because they had faith that she would work to help them again, no matter the dilemma; Barton’s impartiality goes back to the Civil War, when she gave out aid, bandages, and food to Union and Confederate troops.  Finally, solidarity was the unifying thread that helped all citizens through the ideals of centralization, preparation, and impartiality of the Red Cross.  The American people saw Barton as a strong individual, respected and held to these ideals, therefore earning the praise, recognition, and help that each could give her.  In Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Sea Islands, South Carolina, Cuba, and Galveston, Texas, Clara Barton, principles in hand, established herself as America’s mother by helping citizens of each town rebuild after disaster, no matter the age, race, or socioeconomic class.