bMS 415

Barton, Clara. Papers, 1862-1911.

Summary Information:

• Call Number: bMS 415
• Title: Clara Barton. Papers, 1862-1911
• Repository: Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard Divinity School, 45 Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-1911
• Quantity: 1 box

Administrative Information:

• Acquisition Information: Gift of the Universalist Historical Society, 1976.
• Access: There are no restrictions on access to this collection. 

Biographical Note:

Clara Barton (1821-1912), Civil War nurse, suffragist, and founder of the American Red Cross, was born to a prominent Universalist family in Oxford, Massachusetts. Barton established the American Red Cross in 1881; over the next two decades, this organization offered aid during outbreaks of disease, floods, hurricanes, and other domestic crises. As a suffragist, Barton wrote articles for Lucy Stone's Woman's Journal and occasionally appeared onstage during suffrage events with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Julia Ward Howe, and Lucy Stone. She wrote The Story of my Childhood, which was published in 1907. She died of pneumonia in Glen Echo, Maryland.

Scope and Content:

Collection includes correspondence to and from Clara Barton, publications about her by Universalists, newspaper and magazine clippings, biographical material, and photographs.

Container List:

• bMS 415/1 (1) Clara Barton manuscripts in the Universalist Historical Society library, November 1973.
• bMS 415/1 (2) UHS library letters concerning Barton collection.

Series I. Letters by Clara Barton

• bMS 415/1 (3) Barton: postcard to Brother Bisbee, January 1908.
• bMS 415/1 (4) Barton: letter to Mrs. L.A. Chilson, October 8, 1905.
• bMS 415/1 (5) Barton: letter to Josephine P. Holland, March 27, 1894. Letter signed for Barton by H.L Reed. Note added by Julian B. Bubbell.
• bMS 415/1 (6) Barton: letter to Mrs. Jennie S.M. Nintur, October 6, 1904.
• bMS 415/1 (7) Barton: letter to J.B. Procter, September 9, 1862.
• bMS 415/1 (8) Barton: letter to Mr. Taft, June 21, 1910.
• bMS 415/1 (9) Barton: letter to Mrs. Norman S. Thrasher, March 12, 1905. Original letter is signed by Barton; also includes two copies: one a typescript, one a carbon.
• bMS 415/1 (10) Barton: printed letter to Dear Friend, June 1, 1911. Letter concerns her recovery from illness and is signed by Barton.
• bMS 415/1 (11) Barton: statement about International Red Cross conference, Baden Baden, Germany, October 28, 1887. (2 copies).
• bMS 415/1 (12) Barton: Christmas message, 1905. (2 copies).

Series II. Letters relating to Clara Barton

• bMS 415/1 (13) Hall, Lucy M. Letter to Miss Josephine P. Holland, October 16, 1883.
• bMS 415/1 (14) Hall, Lucy M. Letter to Miss Josephine P. Holland, November 28, 1883.
• bMS 415/1 (15) Hall, Lucy M. Letter to Miss Josephine P. Holland, December 20, 1883.
• bMS 415/1 (16) Hall, Lucy M. Letter to Miss Josephine P. Holland, January 10, 1884.
• bMS 415/1 (17) Hubbell, Julian B. Letter to Miss Josephine P. Holland, November 26, 1883.
• bMS 415/1 (18) Hubbell, Julian B. Letter to Miss Josephine P. Holland, January 29, 1884.
• bMS 415/1 (19) Hubbell, Julian B. Letter to Miss Josephine P. Holland, August 25, 1884.
• bMS 415/1 (20) Hubbell, Julian B. Postcard to Miss Josephine P. Holland, September 19, 1884.
• bMS 415/1 (21) Hubbell, Julian B. Letter to Miss Josephine P. Holland, September 19, 1884.
• bMS 415/1 (22) Hubbell, Julian B. Letter to Miss Josephine P. Holland, November 2, 1884.
• bMS 415/1 (23) Thrasher, Leva. Letter to Dear Women, July 24, 1958.
• bMS 415/1 (24) Unsigned letter to Miss Joseph P. Holland, June 29, 1904.
• bMS 415/1 (25) Unidentified letter (unsigned, undated.)

Series III. Publications by Universalists on Clara Barton

• bMS 415/1 (26) "Clara Barton: The Angel of the Battlefield."
• bMS 415/1 (27) Perry, Elizabeth Robbins. "Clara Barton: 'Angel of the Battlefield.' " (2 editions of this publication).
• bMS 415/1 (28) Perry, Elizabeth Robbins. "Clara Barton: 'Angel of the Battlefield.' "
• bMS 415/1 (29) DeWolfe, Carrie L. "Childhood Days of Clara Barton."
• bMS 415/1 (30) Robinson, Elmo A. "Clara Barton - Universalist."
• bMS 415/1 (31) Shutter, Marion D. "Clara Barton and the Red Cross."
• bMS 415/1 (32) Thorburn, George H. "Great Universalist Leaders of the 19th Century: Clara Barton."
• bMS 415/1 (33) "Following the Gleam." (a presentation of the life and works of Clara Barton).
• bMS 415/1 (34) Universalist public relations material on Clara Barton.
• bMS 415/1 (35) Christian Leader, March 1951 and Universalist Leader, March 1957: cover illustrations of Clara Barton.

Series IV. Clippings

• bMS 415/1 (36) Newspaper clippings about Clara Barton.
• bMS 415/1 (37) Magazine clippings about Clara Barton.

Series V. Biographical Material

• bMS 415/1 (38) Memorial services, death notices, photograph of her gravestone.
• bMS 415/1 (39) Clara Barton Monument, Andersonville.
• bMS 415/1 (40) The Clara Barton birthplace. (Booklets, postcards).
• bMS 415/1 (41) Photographs of Clara Barton.