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CLARA BARTON American Red Cross Founder Archive of Letters Many Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
CLARA BARTON American Red Cross Founder Archive of Letters Many Signed
Autographs
Extensive “Clara Barton” Archive of 13 Letters & Several Documents from the Founder

of the American Red Cross
CLARA BARTON (1821-1912). Organizer and First President of the American Red Cross during the American Civil War; her lobbying of the United States Government resulted in the signing of the Geneva Convention in 1882, and she served as the First President of the American National Red Cross (1882-1904).
Wonderful, extensive and important Archive of Clara Barton Autograph Letters, many being Signed by Barton, along with associated Photos, Articles, and an Inscribed Copy of, "A Holiday Tribute to Red Cross Workers," Booklet Imprint. The descriptions comprising this extensive lot should be carefully reviewed as there is some remarkable and historic content within the material presented. This Archive Includes:

Eight Autograph Letters Signed, either “Clara Barton” or “Clara,” ranging in size from 5.5" x 4.75" to 8.5" x 11" all being Handwritten in ink.

Two Autograph Notes Signed, “Clara Barton,” the first four pages of a longer letter not signed

Three Typed Letters Signed, “Clara Barton,” plus Two Autograph Letters Signed, “J.B. Mullen” as Secretary, with Six Typed Letters Signed, “J.B. Mullen” as Secretary, a Typed Letter Signed, “M.A. Hines,” (probably another Secretary), with Typed “Extracts” from letters written by Clara Barton, multiple transmittal envelopes written in Barton’s own hand. Plus: Two (2) Photographs, (1) of the exterior of a hospital, and (1) of Clara Barton herself, and a Newspaper Article. Overall, a very extensive and important addition for any Clara Barton, American Red Cross, or Civil War period related collection.

The Clara Barton Letters content includes; Personal Letters to her family: "My dear brother Stephen..."; "My dear Herbert, if you see the current press notices you must be entertained by the complimentary manner in which your relative is being handled..."; Professional Correspondence: "It is my privilege to tell you of the great pleasure that comes to me through a dispatch from your honored head, inviting me to send a greeting to the first graduating class of your hospital...". Archive also includes: a rare personal 7-page Handwritten Letter with a lengthy Handwritten Postscript on its eighth page, dated on November 18, 1860, from Hilton Head, South Carolina that is written to "Sam and Amelia," being her brother Samuel Barton of Washington DC, and his wife which is accompanied by its original Transmittal Envelope written entirely in Clara Barton's own hand, bearing the notation, "Per Steamer from Port Royal, SC". In this particular Letter, Clara pens, in full:

1. "My dear Sam and Amelia -- I must write a hurried letter this time and for 'short' will speak to you both at once - I presume you will not be particular about one another's seeing all that I write. Both your kind letters came to hand by last Steamer. I was delighted to hear from you, and especially that I can hear so as to reply while I am here, as I am about preparing for another trip to Morris Island, perhaps to pass the Winter, you know I generally stay out over Winter like a Canadian colt, I go as soon as I can get ready probably in a few days. Genl. Gillman and the 'Sanitary Commission' separately desire it and offer me every facility, and I must go at once. I am sorry to leave my nice home here and cannot be near you at all probably all Winter but I must not take up my burden to complain of its weight - it is no harder for me to make a little sacrifice than for others to do a thousand times more, and if only we can get into Charleston it will do just so much towards father's and ever to this unholy strife and letters there from dragged out fellow got home to their families and upon these hellish prison doors of Richmond and give our starving men bread once more, I could work till my fingers dropped off to do this or help do it.

I have written the Judge and will write Virn - I feel as you do. I should rather see the Officer discontinued than that charge made. Amelia I want my beautiful little red & black undersleeves can they not be sent to me in a large envelope, by mail they are light and would not be very bulky - I know of no one who is coming direct and when you cannot think of anything else to pass your time over, I wish you would feel like crocheting me a little collar to match them. I need some deep red-worsted about me and relief I wear black entirely this winter - no, but almost entirely at the field I shall, and a little something of deep rich red or maroon would be such relief as I do not profess to be dressed in mourning, only as a mother of comenium and propriety - if you see a handsome curl and tassles large and soft of similar colors which would just like about my head with my net prettily you must send it, and I will remit, or if you do not, no matter, you will know better than I what I need with pretty black calico dresses of which I have a number, cut full waists and 0 belts, fit nicely with gilt or steel buttress in part of waist. I leave it to your judgment Amelia to say if I need anything and if so send it & charge it - & send me the bill.

Thank you Sam for all the information you sent me of affieul mothers. I wish you Amelia had a beautiful set of deep red moss rose buds & flowers which were presented me today for a hat, worth at least five dollars I have no hat for them, they are splendid, was there ever such a missed up letter as this, and I am sleepy too, it is almost midnight, and I am not certain but I shall be expected to join a party to Fort Pulaski tomorrow. Col. Barton our new 'Commander of Post' desires me to go.

2. Thursday noon - no 11/2 o'clock - Nov 19th. -----

I begged off from Fort Pulaski and the steamer is just going out of sight. I don't know how much time I shall save Col. Elnell came and insisted upon my dining with him, and I did so - and right here I want to tell you a part of the conversation, he remarked that the 'Anti Slavery Standard' was unusually interesting last week - as it contained reminisces of his particular friends, and finally explained that a beautiful piece of poetry written by Mrs. Gage and dedicated to me, had been published. I am sure you would be charmed with it. I think it the best of anything she has ever written, and destined to live along with Bryant's Death of the Flowers - which it sprang from in a playful way which I will some time explain to you, but what I want is that you obtain a number of copies if you can, a few I mean as I may fail to do it, and send two or three to me, and one to Miss Mary Norton Highstown. If you cannot get them, no matter, but I would like you to see it for it is as good a description of the Autumn here, as Bryant's is of the same in the North, I want a copy or two to send to England, although it will get there I suppose. Mrs. Gage has many admirers there.

Sam I am so glad of your good fortune, I knew it would all come right and more too, you will yet bless the day you were relieved from the Surgeon General's office and I felt it all the time - hard for a time I know I have had many such lessons, and they are always salutary you will like Dr. Barnes administration. I [?] better than Dr. Barnes - and either better than Dr. Smiths.

You must write me just the same as if I were here - a boat goes every day from here to Morris & Folly Islands, and my letters will be forwarded immediately - only one days difference, all the trouble will be that I may not always be able to reply by return mail - if I write of any length. Please explain this to my correspondents whom I have neglected to inform. I should be glad to scribble to you all day but my time is limited, and I must say good bye. Write me after tell me all the news - be as happy as kittens, take care of my room and give my love to all enquiring friends. ---- Your loving Clara

'What am I going to do Thanksgiving?' When you eat your Thanksgiving dinner think of all the poor thousands of soldiers who have none, and the big guns that will be thundering about my ears, and you will get a pretty good idea of me as I shall be."

Abraham Lincoln was elected on November 6, 1860, less than two weeks prior to the date of this Letter from Clara Barton. Within a month, South Carolina had withdrawn from the Union, setting the nation on a collision course towards the American Civil War.

Barton's fame was soon to come: in April 1861, a trainload of Union soldiers was mobbed in Baltimore, Maryland by supporters of the Confederacy. The injured were taken to the new U.S. Capitol building in nearby Washington. Clara rushed from the Patent Office (where she was employed) to the makeshift hospital to tend the wounded. Men she knew, including former students, were numbered among them. Compelled to help in some meaningful way, Clara immediately jumped into action, gathering food, medicine, clothing, and other supplies to distribute to the soldiers. She solicited friends from Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey to send needed items to her attention in Washington, and supplies came flooding into the capital city for Clara to carry to "her boys."

8. A highlight of this Archive is a 12-page Imprint Booklet Signed, “Clara” and Inscribed, printed "1888 /1899", the title page: "'The MacClenny Nurses' - A Holiday Tribute to RED CROSS WORKERS in Appreciation and grateful acknowledgment of the faithful hands that toiled, and generous hearts that gave. By Clara Barton - President of the American Red Cross - Washington D.C.: Dec., 1888". This Booklet featuring the famous Red Cross icon, and having "Holiday Greeting" on its front cover. Inscribed by Clara Barton, in pen: "Mr. Herbert P. Barton, with love". Inside front leaf is further Inscribed, in full:

"Dear Herbert, please accept this little memento as a reminder of the first visit paid me, and which has been to me an unbroken succession of happy moments with only the last to be regretted. and this dulls the sharpness of the pang in the hope that it is soon to be crowded out by the visit which shall follow this. Always affectionately, --- (Signed) Clara - Washington D.C. - Jan. 2. 1889"

All items range in generally good condition with a few poor pieces due to their exhibiting water damage, spotting, wear and minor paper loss to the transmittal envelopes where opened. Also having expected tone. Many of the Letters are accompanied by their original Transmittal Envelopes. An most historic and valuable collection of Clara Barton, a.k.a. "Angel of the Battlefield".
Clara Barton, "The Angel of the Battlefield". was the Founder of the American Red Cross. During the Civil War, she solicited and distributed supplies for the wounded. Then, she went to Europe to do relief work in the Franco-Prussian War, in association with the International Red Cross. As a result of her lobbying, the United States signed the Geneva Convention in 1882. Founded (1882) and served as the first president of the American National Red Cross (1882-1904).