Inspired by her experiences in Europe and what she saw of the Red Cross organization in Geneva, Clara Barton continued to corresponded with Red Cross officials in Switzerland after her return to the United States. They recognized her leadership abilities for including this country in the global Red Cross network and for being able to influence the United States government to sign the Geneva Treaty. With a letter from the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in hand, Clara took her appeal to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877, but he looked on the treaty as a possible “entangling alliance” and denied it. However, President James Garfield, was supportive and seemed ready to sign it when he was assassinated. Finally, Garfield’s successor, Chester Arthur, signed the treaty in 1882 and a few days later the Senate ratified it.
The American Red Cross, with Barton at its head, was largely devoted to disaster relief for the first 20 years of its existence. The Red Cross flag flew officially for the first time in the U.S. in 1881 when Clara issued a public appeal for funds and clothing to aid victims of a devastating forest fire in Michigan. In 1884, she chartered steamers to carry needed supplies up and down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to assist flood victims. In 1889, she and 50 volunteers rode the first train into Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to help the survivors of a dam break that caused over 2,000 deaths. Although Henry Dunant had suggested in 1864 that Red Cross societies provide disaster relief as well as wartime services, Barton became its strongest advocate in the years that followed. During the Third International Red Cross Conference in Geneva in 1884, the American Red Cross proposed an amendment to the Geneva Treaty calling for expansion of Red Cross relief to include victims of natural disasters. Although some national societies were doubtful, the resolution passed and became known as the “American Amendment” to the Geneva Treaty in 1864. Because of work like this in support of the global Red Cross network, several countries honored Clara with decorations, such as the German Iron Cross for her relief work in the Franco-Prussian War and the Silver Cross of Imperial Russia for the supplies provided during the famine of 1892. The Red Cross recieved their first congressional charter in 1900 and a second in 1905, the year after Clara resigned from the organization. The most recent charter was adopted in May 2007 and testates the traditional purposes of the organization which include giving relief to and serving as a way of communication amongst members of the American military and their families, and international disaster relief.
The American Red Cross, with Barton at its head, was largely devoted to disaster relief for the first 20 years of its existence. The Red Cross flag flew officially for the first time in the U.S. in 1881 when Clara issued a public appeal for funds and clothing to aid victims of a devastating forest fire in Michigan. In 1884, she chartered steamers to carry needed supplies up and down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to assist flood victims. In 1889, she and 50 volunteers rode the first train into Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to help the survivors of a dam break that caused over 2,000 deaths. Although Henry Dunant had suggested in 1864 that Red Cross societies provide disaster relief as well as wartime services, Barton became its strongest advocate in the years that followed. During the Third International Red Cross Conference in Geneva in 1884, the American Red Cross proposed an amendment to the Geneva Treaty calling for expansion of Red Cross relief to include victims of natural disasters. Although some national societies were doubtful, the resolution passed and became known as the “American Amendment” to the Geneva Treaty in 1864. Because of work like this in support of the global Red Cross network, several countries honored Clara with decorations, such as the German Iron Cross for her relief work in the Franco-Prussian War and the Silver Cross of Imperial Russia for the supplies provided during the famine of 1892. The Red Cross recieved their first congressional charter in 1900 and a second in 1905, the year after Clara resigned from the organization. The most recent charter was adopted in May 2007 and testates the traditional purposes of the organization which include giving relief to and serving as a way of communication amongst members of the American military and their families, and international disaster relief.