Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 and remained at its helm until 1904.  During this time, the organization was responsible for 18 peacetime relief efforts and relief work during the Spanish-American War. Under Barton's leadership, the American Red Cross assisted survivors of many disasters, including the Johnstown Flood, the Sea Islands, South Carolina and Galveston, Texas hurricanes, and provided famine relief in Russia, Turkey and Armenia. Many local chapters of the American Red Cross were established throughout the United States during her tenure.  More...

Dr. Julian Hubbell
Julian Bertine Hubbell served the American Red Cross from 1881 to 1904.  He was an avid Barton and Red Cross supporter, a valuable partner, and an indispensable member of Barton's staff.  More...

Spanish-American War, 1898
Cuba struggled for independence from Spain. To suppress the Cuban rebellion, civilians were rounded up into camps. Lack of sanitation, medical supplies and food, and overcrowding caused widespread disease, starvation and death.  The news of the suffering “reconcentrados” created American public sympathy and an outcry for action. More...

Johnstown Flood, 1899
The Johnstown Flood of 1889 claimed over 2,200 lives. The poorly maintained and weakened South Fork earthen dam collapsed and released a “wall of water” that rolled through the Conemaugh Valley reaching speeds of 40 mph and heights of 75 feet. Communities along the flood path were wiped out. Johnstown, with 30,000 inhabitants, was inundated in 10 minutes. In less than an hour after the dam gave way, entire families were lost and tens of thousands were left homeless. Lower areas of the city were covered by over 20 feet of standing water polluted by debris from 14 miles of countryside and remnants of local settlements.  More...

Galveston Hurricane, 1900
Galveston, Texas, was a prosperous seaport. On September 8, 1900, a devastating hurricane killed over 6,000 people and left more than 10,000 homeless. Over one-third of the city was totally destroyed, few buildings escaped damage.  More...

Resignation, 1904
Clara Barton thrived on 'hands-on' fieldwork. Much of the time, she managed the organization and its many chapters from the field. Newer American Red Cross Board of Control members opposed her management style. There was a growing faction to oust Barton as president and Mabel Boardman emerged as her main competitor.  For several years, the American Red Cross was embroiled in a power struggle.  In 1902, Barton’s supporters elected her president “for life."  The organization fractured into Barton and Boardman supporters. Boardman and others launched attacks on Barton’s character to discredit her.  More...

 
Overview
Stapler [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA2355_stapler.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Stapler
Family Tree [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA578_familyTree.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Family Tree
Dictating Machine (Graphophone) [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA3188_graphophone.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Dictating Machine (Graphophone)
Letterpress [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA2403_press.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Letterpress
Invitation to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Encampmen [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA22_Invitation.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Invitation to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Encampmen
Letter [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA33_Front.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Letter
Clara Barton Photograph [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA36_photograph.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Clara Barton Photograph
Letter [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA40_letterFront.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Letter
Letter [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA48_letterFront.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Letter
Donation Appeal – Form Letter [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA61_letterFront.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Donation Appeal – Form Letter
Letter [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA2980_back.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Letter
Magazine Article, Clara Barton’s Report [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA4536_newspaper.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Magazine Article, Clara Barton’s Report
Letter and Scrapbook [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Overview/CLBA14_scrapbookPG1.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Letter and Scrapbook
Dr. Julian Hubbell
Dr. Julian Hubbell [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/DR_Julian_Hubbell/CLBA562_DrHubbell.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Dr. Julian Hubbell
Dr. Julian Hubbell [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/DR_Julian_Hubbell/CLBA4520_hubbellPortrait.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Dr. Julian Hubbell
Bust [a href="exb/Recognition/gifts_honors/CLBA2810_hubbellbust.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Bust
Letter [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/DR_Julian_Hubbell/CLBA4491_letterAFront.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Letter
Grand Army of the Republic Medal [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/DR_Julian_Hubbell/CLBA4520_hubbellPortrait.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Johnstown Flood
Red Cross Relief Hotel # 3 (Kernville House) [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Johnstown_Flood/CLBA69_photograph.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Red Cross Relief Hotel # 3 (Kernville House)
Red Cross Relief Hotel # 2 (Locust Street Hotel) [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Johnstown_Flood/CLBA70_photograph.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Red Cross Relief Hotel # 2 (Locust Street Hotel)
Exterior view of Red Cross Relief Hotel # 3 (Kernville House) [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Johnstown_Flood/CLBA71_photographFront.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Exterior view of Red Cross Relief Hotel # 3 (Kernville House)
Grand Army of the Republic Medal [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Johnstown_Flood/CLBA4527_Front.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Galveston Hurricane
Booklet, “Report of the Red Cross Relief Galveston Texas” [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Galveston_Hurricane/CLBA316_bookletCover.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Booklet, “Report of the Red Cross Relief Galveston Texas”
Spanish American War
Engraving Plate [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Spanish_American_War/CLBA1637_plate.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Engraving Plate
The Red Cross in Peace and War [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Spanish_American_War/CLBA3159_book.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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The Red Cross in Peace and War
“Harper’s Pictorial History of the War with Spain” [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Spanish_American_War/CLBA4509_cover.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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“Harper’s Pictorial History of the War with Spain”
Clara Barton to the American People [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Spanish_American_War/CLBA4512_PG1.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Clara Barton to the American People
Resignation
The Red Cross Some Facts Concerning Clara Barton’s Work (Page 1 of 8) [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Resignation/CLBA4497_cover.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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The Red Cross Some Facts Concerning Clara Barton’s Work (Page 1 of 8)
Newspaper [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Resignation/CLBA4526_newspaper.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Newspaper
Record [a href="exb/American_Red_Cross/Resignation/CLBA4539_record.html" target="_blank" target="_blank"]
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Record