American Red Cross Month

by Abigail Knowles Wolfe (BPRW)

March is American Red Cross Month, honoring the unparalleled work of the Red Cross in this country for well over a century. The organization now known as the American Red Cross was organized by the celebrated and innovative American nurse Clara Barton over a period of several decades yet was recognized officially in 1881 as John D. Rockefeller donated funds to create a national headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Barton began her mission to provide healing and comfort to the wounded and distressed after the First Battle of Bull Run, establishing an agency to obtain and distribute food and medical supplies to wounded soldiers. Given a pass to ride in the army ambulances of the time, Barton lobbied the U.S. Army, at first with no success, to bring her own medical supplies to the battlefield. Her aim was providing comfort to the soldiers in addition to nursing them back to health. Her involvement with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) during a trip to Europe in 1870 gave Barton the impetus to lobby for this organization on her return to the U.S.

More than 100 years later the Red Cross is part of a worldwide movement offering neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war; assisting in providing aid to victims of natural disasters; collecting, processing and distributing lifesaving blood and blood products; and a number of other compassionate services in additional areas of community service.

African Americans have played a vital role in throughout the history of the Red Cross. Many may be unaware of the fact that famous abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass helped Clara Barton in the founding of the American branch of the Red Cross in 1881. Barton herself became an activist for black civil rights, many think due to her respect and admiration for Douglass. This March, as we honor the Women’s History Month, we can include Barton and the recognition of American Red Cross Month in the amazing contributions women have made to this nation.