Monday, March 9, 2020

Angel of the Battlefield (Clara Barton)

www.miriampaints.blogspot.com

I made a list of some of the women in history who inspire me. Having read a lot and visited some of the Civil War sites, I thought I should paint Clara Barton. She was born on December 25, 1821 (and I was also born on December 25, over a hundred years later). Her comfortable life was given up to serve soldiers of the North and South, without consideration of their color of uniform.

Some of her accomplishments were lesser known. She was in charge of the Patent Office, until she was replaced by a man, who became her boss. Women just were not suited to be in charge of anything, you see. She was also involved in humanitarian work and civil rights advocacy, even though she and other women didn't yet have the right to vote. She was also a member of the Suffragette movement.

Her crowning achievement was becoming the founder of the American Red Cross. After being in Europe, and helping with Red Cross there, she was encouraged to become the first president of the American Red Cross. Unfortunately, she was eventually replaced by a man.  She certainly paved the way for modern women to become whatever they want to be. I am grateful for her and others like her.