Clara Barton was born in 1821 in Massachusetts and showed an early interest in helping others, such as when her brother was injured. She worked as a teacher and clerk before gaining permission in 1862 to travel to Civil War battlefields, where she brought medical supplies. Barton helped countless soldiers and identified thousands of missing Union troops. She went on to found the American Red Cross in 1881, inspired by her work with the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War. Barton helped prepare for and aid people in emergencies until her death in 1912 at age 90.

1. CLARA BARTON Angel Of The Battlefield BY: Luke Robbins Garrison Gay

2. Childhood Born Clarissa Harlowe Barton on December 25 th 1821 in North Oxford, Massachusetts Had four older siblings; two brothers and two sisters Learned how to read by the age of 4 Clara was a very shy child Parents enrolled her in boarding school in order to overcome her shyness At the age of 11 she found her true calling when her brother David was injured after falling off the roof of their barn

3. Adulthood Received her teaching certificate from Clinton Liberal Institute for Females Established a free public school Bordentown, New Jersey in 1852 Worked as a clerk in the Patent Office in Washington D.C. Gained the idea of helping wounded soldiers on the battlefield after seeing how many died on the way to the hospitals

4. Role In The War Finally, in 1862, a man named Officer Rucker gave Clara permission to travel to the battlefields Brought her own medical supplies Served during some of the grimmest battles of the Civil War In 1864, Union General Benjamin Butler appointed her as the “lady in charge.” Presiding over the hospitals at the front of the Army of the James Abraham Lincoln put her in charge of searching for missing Union soldiers

5. Impact On The War Barton distributed medical supplies to countless soldiers Helped identify thousands of lost Union soldiers Clara started the AMERICAN RED CROSS in 1881 Barton was inspired after working with the Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War Helps prepare and aid people in emergencies

6. Clara Barton Died April 12 th , 1912 She was 90 years old

7. sOURCES http://www.historyplace.com/specials/calendar/docs-pix/clara-barton.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Barton http://www.nps.gov/anti/historyculture/images/Clara-Barton.jpg http://library.thinkquest.org/5940/cchildhood.html http://library.thinkquest.org/5940/cadulthood.html http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/ClaraBartonWcbyoung.jpg http://library.thinkquest.org/5940/colderadult.html