Hey everyone! This week we are going to do something that is not art or pop culture related in any way. Instead, we are going to look into the history of the American Red Cross. April 12th is the anniversary of Clara Barton’s passing; she was a prolific woman whose compassion and bravery made the American Red Cross possible – so let’s begin!
Early on in Barton’s life, she worked as a teacher who acquired for herself equal pay, famously refusing to work for less than what men could earn in the same position. She then left teaching and moved to Washington D.C. where she pursued a new career: becoming one of the first women to work for the federal government in the patent office. However, when the Civil War broke out, Barton decided to spring into action by leaving behind her government job to volunteer as a wartime nurse.
Once the war was over, Barton went to Switzerland to recoup by recommendation of a doctor where she was approached by members of the International Red Cross for her humanitarian efforts. With her help, they wanted to establish a branch of the Red Cross in the United States, expanding the number of countries involved in the organization. While still residing in Switzerland, Barton was able to experience the efforts of the International Red Cross firsthand. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out, Barton stopped her vacation and sprang into action once again. She joined the war effort by helping distribute supplies and opening workrooms to help citizens regain their livelihoods post-war.
In 1881, Barton returned to the United States to gather support for and officially establish the American Red Cross. She advocated for the treatment of the suffering, and by 1882 the United States Government signed the Treaty of Geneva, establishing protections for the sick and wounded during wartime. To this day, the Red Cross still holds these humanitarian ideals and continues to provide national and international disaster relief. This May 21st, the American Red Cross celebrates its 142nd birthday!
If you would like to get your hands on a piece of Red Cross history for your collection, be on the lookout for our April 24th Fine Arts Auction as well as our May 10th Historic Arms and Militaria Online Auction. There will be Museum quality American Red Cross Uniforms spanning from World War I to the Vietnam War deaccessioned from the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia to benefit collections care, preservation, and future acquisitions!
