[Rarebooks] FS: Clara Barton Letter on the Red Cross and Dissension

[Charles Agvent]

BARTON, Clara. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) on the Red Cross and 
dissension. Glen Echo [MD], 15 May 1908. A four-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER 
SIGNED on two adjoining sheets (5-1/4" x 6-1/2") dated 15 May 1908 from 
the founder of the American Red Cross and SIGNED with her initials "C. 
B." To Roscoe [G. Wells] and Harriette [L. Reed]. In part: "I am afraid 
I almost killed you with my letters of Sunday. And it may be I was 
entirely mistaken, and that the papers to go out to the people, are not 
to call direct for me---and that this excellently expressed paper is 
only for the men who are to lead, and not for the public---And this 
would be all so right. You will perhaps understand, how these especially 
Red Cross days (of San Francisco) are made to bear a little heavily on 
me, and they are not missing their opportunity neither in New England, 
or here. Their spades are full of earth just now to ignominiously bury 
the poor old Red Cross. You will realize that it is not restful for me 
to feel Miss Boardman visiting in the families, and talking to the 
people of the city of my home, who have always been so willing to let me 
go on and do the hard things they could not do themselves; and when I do 
not hear of one who even asks her a question of the past, but all accept 
her with honor and confidence, you will not wonder so much, that I 
recoiled against asking those same people to show me favor. It was 
foolish I know, but one cannot help being human, even if foolish and 
[?]. It is all over now. I am stronger today, and have reflected that I 
was probably mistaken...The R.C. here is steering very hard in these 
last weeks to both justify and magnify itself. They are not yet 
succeeding to the full measure of their hopes. I wonder if you realize 
what an anchor to my soul you of Boston are? and how every moment my 
thoughts turn to you with that glimmer of hope--and [?] of gratitude 
that keep the spirit up...." Throughout her life, Barton thrived on a 
"hands-on" approach to matters, often managing Red Cross chapters from 
in the field. As the organization became more established, new board 
members opposed this style with some participants looking to remove her 
from power; "Miss Boardman" was Mabel Boardman, who emerged as her main 
competitor. Following a multi-year power struggle, Barton's supporters 
elected her president "for life" in 1902. The organization fractured 
into Barton and Boardman supporters, with this letter, penned eight 
years after that pivotal vote, revealing the bitterness that still 
existed at the thought of "Miss Boardman visiting in the families, and 
talking to the people of the city of my home, who have always been so 
willing to let me go on and do the hard things they could not do 
themselves." Faint crease from folding. Fine with excellent content.

In addition to founding the Red Cross, Barton established in 1905 the 
National First Aid Association of America to promote first aid training. 
Roscoe Green Wells was assistant to the president and commander of the 
ambulance corps of the association. Harriette L. Reed, Barton's closest 
friend whom she often called "sister," became president of the 
association following Barton's death. Barton was also an ardent suffrage 
supporter. She was a friend of Susan B. Anthony and spoke at many 
suffrage conventions, including the first national women's suffrage 
convention held in Washington, D.C. (1869) and National American Woman 
Suffrage Association (NAWSA) Conventions of 1893, 1902, 1904, and 1906. 
(#016109)        $1,500.00

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