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Angels Among Us Heart Menders & Hope Givers of the Red Cross by Debbie neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum The name Clarissa Harlowe Barton, aka Clara Barton, is easily Cross, a goal she accomplished in 1881…a volunteer organizarecognizable. Her name is etched on the boulders of history like tion she led for 23 years. many others and, amazingly, Clara Some of the greatest deeds neither require nor receive Organized February 14, 1916, had no idea how impactful her givheadlines…they are silent acts of random kindness. the Bartlesville Chapter of the ing spirit would prove to be. She Daughters of the American Revowas intensely devoted to supporting Civil War soldiers as an lution (DAR) was a force of ladies to be reckoned with and their independent nurse, dressing wounds and saving lives, which volunteer operation supported the National Red Cross and the brought her the title “Angel of the Battlefield.” Belgian Relief fund while organizing first aid and surgical dressIt was during ing training pre-WWI. But, when the U.S. entered that war on April a European visit 6, 1917, the ladies realized their projects were too daunting to be that Clara was self-sustaining. Their American Red Cross charter application introduced to the was backed by some of Bartlesville’s most prominent businesswork of the Intermen and through the efforts of the Bartlesville DAR, on June 4, national Red 1917, the Bartlesville Chapter of the American Red Cross assumed Cross and once part of the DAR duties. she returned Shortly thereafter, the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic raised home, her efforts its ugly head in Washington County and the two organizations turned to estabjoined forces to support the needs of five local emergency hoslishing the pitals. The situation was dire and flu deaths hit smelter workers American Red hardest. A medical team of one physician and two trained nurses 48
bmonthly | DECEMBER 2021
