Summary

Clara Barton was a painfully shy child who grew up to become a courageous humanitarian. She first worked as a teacher. Later, during the Civil War, she tended to wounded Union soldiers, earning her the nickname "Angel of the Battlefield." While traveling in Europe, she learned about the International Red Cross, a volunteer group dedicated to taking care of people during wartime. Barton worked with the International Red Cross, helping with its efforts to aid civilians during the Franco-Prussian War. Barton worked tirelessly to create a Red Cross in the United States, lobbying politicians in Washington, D.C. She became the founder and first president of the American Red Cross and introduced programs to help victims of natural disasters as well as victims of war. Book jacket.