[Rarebooks] FS: Superb Clara Barton Handwritten Letter about Dissension in the Red Cross, price reduced

[Charles Agvent]

Price reduced to $1000 NET

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

https://www.charlesagvent.com/shop/agvent/016109.html

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