Clara Barton (1821–1912)
A former teacher and patent clerk, Clara Barton risked her life to bring supplies to the front lines of the Civil War. Her experience taught her that aid must be organized and neutral, leading her to found the American Red Cross.
Key Philanthropic Activities:
- Founding the Red Cross: Established the American Red Cross in 1881 and served as its president for 23 years.
- Office of Missing Soldiers: Ran a tracing service that identified over 22,000 missing Union soldiers, bringing closure to thousands of families.
- Disaster Response: Led relief efforts for the Johnstown Flood of 1889 and the Galveston hurricane of 1900.
- First Aid Education: Pioneered the concept of teaching first aid to regular citizens.
