American Red Cross History

The American Red Cross history is inexorably intertwined with the life of Clara Barton, one of the great humanitarians of the Victorian era, and with the International Red Cross.

No other relief organization is better known in the United States than the American Red Cross. History relates that Clara Barton, a teacher and bureaucrat, went to Europe on the advice of her doctors for some rest and relaxation. It was there that she encountered the work of the International Red Cross. Impressed by their efforts to relieve human suffering during the Franco-Prussian war, Barton vowed to bring this same type of service home to the United States. She struggled for many years to gain acceptance for the fledgling organization. It was finally under the auspices of President Chester A. Arthur. Although Barton had hoped to focus the American Red Cross’ work on war relief, Arthur insisted she expand their work to encompass other services, and so the American Red Cross became a relief organization in times of war and natural or manmade disasters.

Clara Harlowe Barton was a tireless champion of human rights. Born to a prosperous Massachusetts family in 1821, Clara displayed an early interest in nursing by caring for her younger brother after a bad fall made him an invalid. Although her formal career was as a teacher, Barton became a nurse in 1862 in response to the American Civil War. After the Battle of Bull Run, she was given a special pass from the army that allowed her to ride with wounded soldiers in the ambulances to give them aid and comfort. She lobbied congress for medical supplies but often gathered her rudimentary nursing supplies from her family and friends. She proved so valuable to the Union that in 1864 the Union army made her the “lady in charge of hospitals” and she was able to use her prodigious talents to organize care for wounded soldiers. In 1865, Abraham Lincoln himself appointed Clara Barton in charge of searching for missing soldiers.

She became friends with Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas, and became a passionate supporter of both women’s suffrage and civil rights. She lectured extensively on her war experiences in the hopes of encouraging people to support nursing, care for wounded veterans, and disaster relief.

Exhausted from her work during the Civil War, Barton’s physicians advised her to travel to Europe for a rest cure. It was then that she met and studied the International Red Cross, and vowed to bring their services back to the United States.

The American branch of the Red Cross was officially founded on May 21, 1881, and Barton became its first president. Because President Arthur insisted that she expand the scope of the Red Cross’ services beyond caring for war victims, she organized and readied the organization for assistance.

The American Red Cross’ first actions were to provide disaster relief during the Thumb Fire of 1881, a disastrous fire in Michigan that left thousands homeless. Shortly after this first test, the organization faced one of the worst natural disasters in American history, the Johnstown Flood of 1889. The flood, which occurred when a dirt dam collapsed, flooded the entire large town of Johnstown. Hundreds drowned or burned when the town was hit with floodwaters.

The American Red Cross organized relief efforts for soldiers and civilians during all subsequent major wars. World War I, World War II, and other conflicts found the American Red Cross at the forefront of relief efforts. The American Red Cross history is also replete with stories of relief supplies, blood donations, and skilled assistance for people all over the world. They developed a well-earned reputation as friends to the world.

Today, the American Red Cross provides the same disaster relief services. When hurricane, tornado, fire, flood or terrorist attacks leave people homeless and hurt, the American Red Cross is there to help. The American Red Cross has a network of 700 chapters throughout the United States, supplies blood donations to over 3,000 hospitals, and trains approximately 12 million people annually in emergency medical skills. It continues the work and mission of its founder, and remains a friend to the American people and to the world in times of trouble.

For more information about the history of the American Red Cross and its founder, please visit:

• The American Red Cross, official website of the organization, where you can learn about current activities and how you can help their mission.
• The Clara Barton National Historic Site is run by the National Park Services and preserves her Maryland home as a museum. Learn about this fascinating woman and her tireless efforts to help others by visiting the actual museum or reviewing photos and documents online.

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