CLARA BARTON - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 02/11/1907 - HFSID 175781

CLARA BARTON
Clara Barton sends an autograph letter about some official papers she has.
Autograph Letter signed: "Clara Barton", 1p, 5¼x6½. Glen Echo Maryland, 1907 February 11. To "My dear Mr Hyatt". Marked "Copy". In full: "I have just received, and carefully read, the official papers kindly entrusted to me, and will forward them today to my assistant at Headquarters in Boston, Mr Roscoe G. Wells with the request that he overlook, and return them safely to you, with such remarks, as he sees fit to make, if any. Thanking you sincerely for your courtesy I remain as ever. Yours Cordially." Clara Barton (1821-1912), who had served on the battlefields of the Civil War, became acquainted with the International Red Cross of Geneva while working abroad during the Franco-Prussian conflict and established the American Red Cross in 1882. She served as the organization's President until June 16, 1904, when she resigned from her "lifelong presidency". In April 1905, the year before this document was signed, Barton, who had originally planned to organized a Red Cross in Mexico, founded the National First Aid Association of America, which taught first aid classes (likely the reason for the Diplomas mentioned in this letter), developed the original first aid kits and helped to organize community ambulance brigades. She would serve as the organization's honorary President for five years. In 1907, The Story of My Childhood, the first and only volume of her planned multi-volume autobiography, was published. In 1891, Edward and Edwin Baltzley had built a three-story, 30-room home in Glen Echo, Maryland for Barton. Remodeled in 1897 as the headquarters of the American Red Cross, the home temporarily served as a warehouse and was crammed with thousands of items to assist victims of wars and natural disasters. Barton would live in the home until her death. Diagonal crease crosses "a" in "Barton". Fine condition.