Skip to Main Content
Digital Public Library of America
  • Home
  • Browse by Topic
  • Browse by Partner
  • Exhibitions
  • Primary Source Sets
  • My Lists
  • About DPLA
  • News
  • DPLA Pro
  • Home
  • Browse by Topic
  • Browse by Partner
  • Exhibitions
  • Primary Source Sets
  • My Lists
  • About DPLA
  • News
  • DPLA Pro
Primary Source Sets
Beginnings of the American Red Cross
A letter by Clara Barton, president of the American Red Cross, to May Wright Sewall, president of the National Council of Women, 1888.

A letter by Clara Barton, president of the American Red Cross, to May Wright Sewall, president of the National Council of Women, 1888.

Clara Barton was often referred to as “The Angel of the Battlefield” because of her work helping wounded soldiers during the American Civil War. Following the war, Barton met activists such as Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass and became affiliated with women’s rights and civil rights activism. Barton founded the American Red Cross (ARC) in 1881. In this letter, Barton is responding to a request by May Wright Sewall, who wanted the ARC to become an ally of the National Council of Women. May Wright Sewall was an activist most known for her work in the suffrage movement. She served as the president of the National Council of Woman of the United States from 1897 to 1899.

Transcription:

Washington DC. July 6/88

Dear May Wright Sewall:

My beloved friend

I pray you will not take for granted any thing which I may or may not do, but always proceed to tell one plainly what I ought to do.

I will be most happy to lay before our meeting the subject of the organization of the Red Cross becoming an ally of the National Council & will give you the result before the 1st of October.

I look for the greatest progress and immense results from the “National Council,” its five officers form a galaxy of power & strength, and it will lay a reforming and healing hand on all needy points.

I was at “Wellesley” and at “Lasselle” [[object Object]] two weeks ago. And I thought of your institution and wished I could see it[[object Object]].

I missed you at the Boston Convention - it was excellent and popular. And dear Lucy Stone was as sweet and calm as a summary morning. It was a filling finale to the great and grand meeting which so honored hour national Capital and where we did not miss you. In dear love & appreciation I am Always your Clara Barton

Show full description
Citation Information
Barton, Clara, “Letter from Clara Barton to May Wright Sewall,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/33876f650f88a34035d83f043db39d6f.
Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.
Courtesy of Indianapolis Special Collections Room, Indianapolis Public Library and Indianapolis Marion County Public Library via Indiana Memory.

Tips for Students

For this source, consider:

  • the author's point of view
  • the author's purpose
  • historical context
  • audience

Item 1 of 14 in the Primary Source Set Beginnings of the American Red Cross

Next Item
A letter by Clara Barton, president of the American Red Cross, to May Wright Sewall, president of the National Council of Women, 1888.
An open letter to Clara Barton, president of the American Red Cross, from members of the Club Federico de la Torre, 1897.
A 1918 photograph of American Red Cross volunteers preparing surgical dressings.
An excerpt from “The American Red Cross: Organization and Activities,” an informational booklet published in 1917.
A poster titled “Help Your American Red Cross,” ca. 1918.
An American Red Cross fundraising poster, distributed during World War I, ca. 1917.
A 1918 photograph of members of the Toussaint L’Ouverture chapter of the American Red Cross, Savannah, Georgia.
An American Red Cross poster titled “In the Service of Those Who Suffer,” ca. 1919.
A bulletin issued by the War Council of the American Red Cross in 1918.
A 1919 American Red Cross press release about an award given to African American volunteer Rev. R. H. Windsor.
An excerpt from a 1919 report of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Red Cross.
A patriotic World War I poster for the American Red Cross, ca. 1920.
A 1923 memo from African American activist Walter F. White to W. E. B. Du Bois.
A 1979 interview with Susan Hicks about her work with the Red Cross in Charlotte, North Carolina during and after World War I.

These sets were created and reviewed by teachers. Explore resources and ideas for Using DPLA's Primary Source Sets in your classroom.

To give feedback, contact us at info@dp.la. You can also view resources for National History Day.

DPLA

  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • How Can I Use DPLA?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Harmful Content
  • About DPLA
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • News

Tools

  • Primary Source Sets
  • Browse by Partner
  • Browse by Topic
  • Exhibitions
  • My Lists
  • Search

DPLA Pro

  • DPLA Pro Home
  • Prospective Hubs
  • Hub Network
  • Developers
  • Education
  • Projects
  • Ebooks
  • Events
Donate
DPLA Home
FacebookInstagramTwitter