American National Red Cross

Clara Barton (1821–1912), famous for her accomplishments as a nurse during the Civil War, founded the American Association of the Red Cross on May 21, 1881, in Washington, D.C., after learning of the International Red Cross while visiting Europe. A group of Barton’s acquaintances and allies signed articles of incorporation, including U.S. Representative William Laurence (1819–1899), Barton’s nephew Stephen E. Barton (1849–1929), and reformer Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) in his role as Recorder of Deeds for the District. One of the original goals of the American National Red Cross—“to organize a system of National Relief and apply the same as mitigating the sufferings caused by war, pestilence, famine, and other calamities,” —still inspires Red Cross volunteers today.