CLARA BARTON - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 175775

ABOUT THE PRINTING OF A RED CROSS BOOK
 
CLARA BARTON. Autograph Letter Signed: "C B.", 3p, 4¾x7¾. [Oxford, Mass.], no date. To Roscoe G. Wells. In full: "I am going into Worcester to dine and shall try to reach you by phone. The little book is here and very pretty - but I miss the wide margins. I know the printer will say the addition of two other leaves, and a little larger print as we spoke of will increase the cost etc etc. I know that; but if it is worth doing in the first place, it is worth paying for in the last. The dignity of the book is [illegible] by the effort to save space and cost. You know we spoke of the print of the little Red Cross book for type, with leaves like that, and wide margins and expected it would take four pages. Please hold, until we see if that, or something like it cannot be done. I will send this but hope to get you on phone today. I have all the lovely Xmas greetings - and am so happy one item - Miss Jennings is here. we go to Ida's to eat Turkey this afternoon. I am in such haste I cannot write." Postscript: "all is right, but the too crowded matter surely cares. Over". On verso of this page, Barton adds: "As I look at it again I do not see as really there need be more leaves added. There are two or rather three spare pages as it is. Could not be page of Officers be pushed on, to the last, or next to the last page - and this gives four, instead of the pages of the greetings, and then have just double the space for print and margins. There are really three blank pages as it is. Is this necessary? Is it more [illegible] to utilize what we have - are 4 blank pages is required for appearance - them add two leaves. Please, Assistant dear help me think - we want it elegant." General ROSCOE G. WELLS was Barton's assistant at the National First Aid Association of America. On May 14, 1904, CLARA BARTON resigned as President of the American National Red Cross, in wake of mounting criticism of her management style, ability and age (82). In April, 1905, she established the National First Aid Association of America and served as honorary president for five years. It was based on an unsuccessful first aid program Barton had initiated within the Red Cross. The new organization emphasized basic first aid instruction and emergency preparedness and developed the first aid kit now used at homes and in schools and businesses. Ambulance brigades were formed in conjunction with police and fire departments, as well as in industrial settings. Though the organization didn't grow as she had hoped, her goal was achieved: first aid training was incorporated as one of the essential functions of the American Red Cross. Fine condition.