Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross

by Dorothy Brenner Francis

Chronicles the life of Clara Barton, from her early days as a teacher to her work with the Bureau of Records and her establishment of the American Red Cross.

48 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Ashley Polansky]

Title: Clara Barton
Author: Dorothy Francis
Illustrator: N/A
Genre: Biography (3rd-5th, this book is for 4th grade)
Theme(s): Tragedy, bullying, death, loss, family, support
Opening line/sentence: Clara Barton stood at one end of her living room in Washington, D.C.
Brief Book Summary: This biography is about the life of Clara Barton and the challenges and success she faces throughout her life. She had a difficult childhood, but when she got older she learned how much she enjoys helping others. However she became a school-teacher for a period of time until she realized she wanted to do something different. When getting a job in the U.S. Patent office, Fort Sumter broke out and Clara felt the need to gather supplies and help out the men. Later on she founded the American Red Cross Foundation and helped out wounded soldiers, civilians, and prisoners of war.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Norah Piehl (Children's Literature)
This even-handed biography of Clara Barton takes a balanced look at the famous Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross organization, examining her faults as well as these claims to fame. Like many biographies of Barton, this one attempts to find the seeds of Barton's later ambition and success in her difficult childhood, particularly her contentious relationship with her parents and her early experience nursing her older brother back to health. The narrative also places a great deal of emphasis on Barton's plain physical appearance as well as the shyness resulting from this perceived homeliness. Readers do have a few chances to judge Barton's appearance for themselves via the few photographic portraits placed in the text. The bulk of the illustrations are colorized period lithographs and black-and-white photographs of significant sites in Barton's life. Unfortunately, source notes do not accompany these illustrations; only very brief credits appear in the book's front matter. Historical context to Barton's life story is provided via brief summaries of issues ranging from nineteenth-century education to women and the work of the Red Cross today. A chronology, index, and list of sources for further information are included. Part of the "Gateway Biographies" series. 2002, Millbrook Press, $23.90. Ages 8 to 12.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: The Horn Book
Horn Book Guide Reviews 2003 Spring
This laudatory biography of Clara Barton presents her life in a friendly tone, highlighting her work as a teacher, (untrained) nurse, and founder of the American Red Cross. Numerous asides give further insight into the history and background of the times in which she lived, helping to put her story into perspective. The book is illustrated with photos and often colorized historical drawings and includes a timeline. Bib., ind. Copyright 2003 Horn Book Guide Reviews

Response to Two Professional Reviews: These reviews speak very highly of the biography on Clara Barton. Both admired how the book spoke about the time in which she lived, and the background behind her family life and growing up. This biography talks about her success, as well as failures, which is inspiring to the readers to see how far she came along.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This biography is in chronological order, so we can see what happened in first in Clara’s life, all the way until what happened last. There is dialogue presented where we can see exactly what Clara said at certain points in the book. Foreshadowing occurred in the beginning of the biography when it states “Clara learned that she could win the attention she longed for by using her brain” indicating that something is going to happen in her life where she uses her intelligence to become successful.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This biography could be very useful in the classroom. We can discuss many historical events including the civil war, fort Sumter, equal rights, feminism, etc. We can choose a topic and go into further detail discussing the events leading up to these, and the conclusions. For example if we were going to focus on the American Red Cross foundation, we can navigate through their website (http://www.redcross.org/support) and talk about ways in which we can help. This will teach children about the importance of helping others and giving back to the community.

[Rayan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When she was three years old, Clara was sent to school with her brother Stephen where she excelled in reading and spelling. At school, she became close friends with Nancy Mitts; this is the only known friend Clara Barton had as a child due to her extreme timidness. Her parents tried to help cure her of this shyness by sending her to Col. Stones High School, but their strategy turned out to be a disaster. Clara became more timid and depressed and would not eat. She was immediately removed from the school and brought back home to regain her health.

Upon her return, her family relocated to help a family member, as the nephew of Captain Stephen Barton had died and left his wife with four children and a farm. The house that the Barton family was to live in needed to be painted and repaired.Clara was persistent in offering her assistance, for which the painter was very grateful. After the work was done, Clara felt at a loss because she had nothing else to do to help and not feel like a burden to her family.She began to play with her male cousins, and to their surprise, she was good at keeping up with such tasks as horseback riding. It was not until after she had injured herself that Clara's mother began to question her playing with the boys. Clara's mother wanted her to become acquainted with her feminine side. She invited one of Clara's female cousins over to help develop her femininity. Upon learning from her cousin, she gained proper social skills as well.

She was just ten when she assigned herself the task of nursing her brother David back to health after he fell from the roof of a barn and received a severe injury. She learned how to distribute the prescribed medication to her brother, as well as how to place leeches on his body to bleed him. (This was a regular treatment during this time.) She continued to care for David long after doctors had given up. Her brother made a full recovery.

[Sabrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clara Barton was a girl who worked as a nurse in the civil war. Clara was an intelligent woman that helped many people in the civil war. Clara Barton never had a training. But she work hard. All this work gave her a result. Clara Barton create the American Red Cross that was something important for the United States in 1881 when she was 60 years old. She sacrificed herself to bring helpful supplies and support for the wounded. The tactics she used to have a better cure were sorting the wounded and using clean bandages. She became a teacher at a time when most teachers were men. She got a successful nurse and what shocked the reader is that she had no training, only trained herself, and became successful.

Clara Barton is a biography book because it talks about a real person and its title is the name of the person. It also talks about facts of her life and what were the important parts that made her famous. Clara Barton saved other people’s lives and she also helped many people survive the pain of the Civil War. I think that this person is a hero. I think that she is a hero because she was special because she was a successful untrained nurse. She also was the founder of the American Red Cross, and saved the lives of many people. The wounded would count on her and she used tough tactics which were very helpful.

I would recommend this book to authors who write about biographies. Also to historians and people who love learning about heros’ lives. I would recommend this book to god readers and to sixth graders. The level of English should be at the average for the people who want to read the book successfully.

[Shelly♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an overview into the life of Clara Barton. It included her career as a teacher, her work in the Civil War and her founding of the Red Cross. Had additional information on the war, women's rights and the red cross among other things in boxes throughout the book.

Recommend for older elementary.

[Kari Pioquinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book my Dad read to me. Each night for weeks right before bed he ready to be about this wonderful woman and all she did for the people.

[Patul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book

[Cecelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clara Barton was born to a farming family in Massachusetts. She excelled in school, and became a schoolteacher. She later served as a nurse in the Civil War and aided in the reconstructive effort by locating soldiers and notifying their families. Barton helped during the Franco-Prussian War and was introduced to the Red Cross Organization, and established the American Red Cross in 1881. She spent the rest of her life working with the Red Cross, and is remembered for a lifetime of charity.