Auotgraph letter from the American nurse who founded the American Red Cross. Two pages, lightly-lined on two adjoining sheets, stamped in red "American Association of the Red Cross," with interesting content shedding light on Barton's incredible busy lecture touring schedule. 5.25 x 6.75 inches (13.3 x 17.2 cm), Washington, DC. April 26, 1884. Letter to Mrs. Ella Dunton Barnes. In part:
"Your very welcome letter has reached me and I was very glad to hear from you, as I am from all my good Dansville neighbors. In regard to the renting of a portion of my home, it will be impossible for me to say what I can do till I am home, to see the condition it is in and decide what I want to do myself. I have scarcely seen it in nearly three years and have not made my own arrangements and cannot for a few weeks yet. As all my assistants are still at New Orleans, I can only say my dear Mrs. Barnes that I should enjoy you as my home neighbor and if I could make such arrangements with anyone just at present, I should not decline you. I expect to be home sometime next month but can[not] say positively when."
In very good condition, with smaller separations and tears along the edges, one larger separation along the upper right fold, still well attached. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, postmarked Washington, April 27.
Barton founded the very first local chapter of the American Red Cross in Dansville, New York, on August 22, 1881 and she resided in Dansville between 1876 and 1886, treating it as her country home and using it as a base for her early, pioneering humanitarian work. The present letter was written during a period in which Barton traveled extensively, delivering numerous lectures promoting the Red Cross. In February, 1884 when the Ohio River Floods left over 5,000 families homeless, she directed the relief effort and the American Red Cross distributed $175,000 in cash and supplies. In August, she travelled to Europe as one of three U.S. delegates to the International Conference of the Red Cross at Geneva, Switzerland. The "American Amendment," which allowed the Red Cross to provide peacetime disaster relief, was adopted due in large part to Miss Barton's innovations with the American Red Cross.
Auotgraph letter from the American nurse who founded the American Red Cross. Two pages, lightly-lined on two adjoining sheets, stamped in red "American Association of the Red Cross," with interesting content shedding light on Barton's incredible busy lecture touring schedule. 5.25 x 6.75 inches (13.3 x 17.2 cm), Washington, DC. April 26, 1884. Letter to Mrs. Ella Dunton Barnes. In part:
"Your very welcome letter has reached me and I was very glad to hear from you, as I am from all my good Dansville neighbors. In regard to the renting of a portion of my home, it will be impossible for me to say what I can do till I am home, to see the condition it is in and decide what I want to do myself. I have scarcely seen it in nearly three years and have not made my own arrangements and cannot for a few weeks yet. As all my assistants are still at New Orleans, I can only say my dear Mrs. Barnes that I should enjoy you as my home neighbor and if I could make such arrangements with anyone just at present, I should not decline you. I expect to be home sometime next month but can[not] say positively when."
In very good condition, with smaller separations and tears along the edges, one larger separation along the upper right fold, still well attached. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, postmarked Washington, April 27.
Barton founded the very first local chapter of the American Red Cross in Dansville, New York, on August 22, 1881 and she resided in Dansville between 1876 and 1886, treating it as her country home and using it as a base for her early, pioneering humanitarian work. The present letter was written during a period in which Barton traveled extensively, delivering numerous lectures promoting the Red Cross. In February, 1884 when the Ohio River Floods left over 5,000 families homeless, she directed the relief effort and the American Red Cross distributed $175,000 in cash and supplies. In August, she travelled to Europe as one of three U.S. delegates to the International Conference of the Red Cross at Geneva, Switzerland. The "American Amendment," which allowed the Red Cross to provide peacetime disaster relief, was adopted due in large part to Miss Barton's innovations with the American Red Cross.