Clarissa Harlowe Barton: Teacher, Nurse, Innovator.
Nicole Reid
New York City College of Technology
Clarissa Harlowe Barton, otherwise known as Clara Barton, was a trailblazer who, despite her timid nature during her preadolescent and adolescent years, made great efforts as a civil war nurse, and went on to establish the first American Red Cross that forever transformed the way humanitarian efforts were delivered and received. Clara Barton was born in North Oxford, Massachusetts on Christmas day in the year 1821 (Strickler, 2018). She was the youngest of five children from parents, Stephen Barton, a farmer and captain in the local Oxford militia, and Sarah Barton, a hot- tempered homemaker.
It would appear that Clara’s innate nursing skills were first discovered at the tender age of eleven, when she assisted in nursing her older brother David back to health after he tragically fell from a beam structured in the roof of a barn (Barton Center, 2017). However, that dedication to nursing her brother did not initially lead her to an official job as a nurse. For, Clara worked as a teacher at the age of eighteen as that was amongst the few occupations a woman could obtain during that era. Clara was capable of fulfilling such a position from her “[formal] education at local schools and through home tutoring from her older brothers and sisters” (National Park Service, 2015). Clara had such a passion for instructing others, that at age twenty-four, she opened her very own school, The Clinton Liberal Institute. Unfortunately, due to the evident inequality between men and women during that time period, the founder of the Clinton Liberal Institute, Clarissa Harlowe Barton, was not allowed to be the principal of the educational institution she established, and sadly, that position became occupied by a man. It was this circumstance that caused Clara’s teaching career to end rather abruptly after three years of instruction.
After leaving her post as the founder and teacher at a school, Clara “moved to Washington, D.C. in the year 1854, [where she worked] as a clerk at the United States Patent Office” (Barton Center, 2017). However, her true calling emerged when the Civil War erupted in year 1861 and Clara was so “compelled to help in some meaningful way, [she] immediately jumped into action, gathering food, medicine, clothing, and other supplies to distribute to the [wounded] soldiers. She solicited friends from Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey to send needed items to her attention in Washington. Supplies came flooding into the capital city for Clara to carry to [the soldiers]” (Barton Center, 2017). Clara selflessly served the soldiers in war from the moment the war began, until it ended in 1865.
As a result of Clara’s wartime accomplishments, she was contacted by the International Red Cross with the intent of introducing the organization into the American society. Clara spent time abroad learning about the organizations inner workings to then return and lobby for the same system to be put in place on American soil. The goal of this initiative was to provide aid to soldiers, especially in times of disaster, natural or otherwise. Clara fought tirelessly for this system to be implemented, and after almost a decade, the Red Cross was finally established in America. In present day, the Red Cross is a reputable and trusted organization that not only assists soldiers, but also protects the health and wellbeing of any person who requires it. The Red Cross also accepts blood and monetary donations and provides training for certifications such as basic life support and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
In my opinion, the major influence that guided the path Clara took was the unfortunate incident involving her brother. It appears that she felt compelled to ensure his recovery, thus staying home two years, neglecting school, to care for him. It could also be argued that her ability to care for the wounded was an instinctive nature. The factor that made her excel was the necessity of the service she provided at the time, taking into consideration that it was a time of war and the wounded needed care. That era also opened up the need for a system to be put in place to help those in need. Her determination, passion and patience also aided in the success of the establishment of the first American Red Cross. Eight years is certainly a long time to fight for a cause. The lesson learned is that nursing requires selflessness and the desire to ensure the safety and wellbeing of others. Clara is an inspiration to me because she was a woman in a male dominated world that was able to create a long- standing, firm and reliable organization that aids the American people. Also, she is a nurse.
References
Strickler, J. (2018). Clara barton: Angel of the battlefield. Nursing, 48(3), 43–45. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000529805.60418.26
Barton Center. (2017). Clara Barton Birthplace Museum. Retrieved from: http://www.clarabartonbirthplace.org
National Park Service. (2015). Clara Barton Chronology 1821-1860 – Clara Barton NHS. Retrieved from: https://www.nps.gov/clba/learn/kidsyouth/chron1.htm
