CLARA BARTON - AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT UNSIGNED - HFSID 269484

CLARA BARTON WRITES ABOUT THE FIRST AID CLASS AT THE MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, Y.M.C.A.
 
CLARA BARTON. Comprises: (1) Autograph Manuscript unsigned, 1p, 5x6¾. No place, no date. Circa 1909-1912. In full: "Y.M.C.A. Has class in 'First Aid'. Montclair N.J. Wednesday - Eight Montclair young men have been enrolled in a class in first aid to the injured at the Montclair Young Men's Christian Association. Dr. Walton B. Mount, of this town, is the instructor. The boys will receive a course of ten lectures, at the end of which, they will undergo an examination. All who successfully pass the examination will receive the diploma of the Red Cross Society. The members of the class are Donald Brewster, Frederick Dutcher, William J. Harris, Walton Hering, Leon Weaver, Frederick Davis, Phillip F. Greene and Thomas Craig." Marked "Copy" by Barton on verso. Staple holes at top. Fine condition. (2) Typed Manuscript unsigned, 1p, 8x10½. Headed: "TO TEACH 'FIRST AID./Y.M.C.A. to promote Red Cross Work All Over Country." Carbon noted to be "Copy" in pencil in Barton's hand at top left. In full: "One of the largest movements of its kind ever started in North America is the first aid campaign on this fall and winter, promoted by the American National Red Cross, of which President Taft is the active president, and the Young Men's Christian Association. The Y.M.C.A. is the active body promoting and conducting the work at its various centers. Some manufacturing concerns, where accidents are common, are detailing men for first aid duty. At Cambridge, a definite course was given by the Y.M.C.A. to the city firemen. At some points manufacturing concerns have detailed men to attend Saturday afternoon courses at the close of the working day. Associations now in the midst of the football season are finding boys quite ready to learn how to take care of broken heads, smashed ribs and fractured limbs. This great movement follows up the campaign during the past year in teaching thousands of boys how to swim and fitting them for volunteer life-saving service." Undated, but circa 1909-1912; Taft became President in 1909 and Clara Barton died in 1912. Staple and pin holes at top. Overall, fine condition. 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. Two items.