_{Written by Kaylin Cantu, Red Cross Cascades Volunteer}

December 25 marks the birthday of humanitarian icon Clara Barton. While most famously remembered for founding the American Red Cross in 1881, her career of advocacy started much earlier. She began teaching at age 18 in Massachusetts and later founded New Jersey’s first free public school. After transitioning into government work at the U.S. Patent Office, she became one of the first women to earn a salary equal to her male counterparts.

When the Civil War broke out, Clara got involved, distributing large amounts of donated medical supplies and food to the front lines, often purchasing them herself. Barton also worked as a nurse, providing healthcare to wounded soldiers while working under dangerous conditions. She was even given the nickname, “Angel of the Battlefield.” Barton’s service continued after the war, when President Abraham Lincoln appointed her as the General Correspondent for the Friends of Paroled Prisoners, where she communicated with the friends and families of missing soldiers. 

In 1869, Barton traveled to Switzerland and learned about the International Red Cross. Inspired by their mission, she returned home to advocate for an American chapter to serve during wartime. In 1881, Barton successfully established the American Red Cross, eventually persuading the U.S. to ratify the Geneva Conventions. At the 1884 International Red Cross Conference, she was the sole female delegate and the driving force behind the “American Amendment,” which expanded the organization’s mission to include natural disaster relief.  She served as the American Red Cross president for 23 years before retiring in 1904. 

Barton spent her final years in Glen Echo, Maryland, at a home that doubled as a relief warehouse and the American Red Cross Headquarters. A testament to her lifelong dedication, she lived alongside her staff and volunteers, never separating her personal life from her humanitarian mission. She passed away there in 1912, leaving behind a site that remains a National Historic Landmark today.

Clara Barton remains an inspiration and a foundational figure in global history. But for some volunteers, Clara isn’t just a name in a history book. She’s also a traveling companion. 

Deb Mason, a Disaster Assessment (DAT) supervisor in Southwest Wisconsin, has found a unique way to keep Barton’s spirit present during her relief efforts. Accompanied by ‘Flat Clara’—a vintage 1970s doll she discovered on eBay—Deb brings the founder’s humanitarian heart to every deployment.

“Everything Red Cross began with Clara. So it was kind of the idea of having her travel, and in a

way, show that she’s still alive in the Red Cross community. When I do something, I think, what would Clara do? So that I can make sure I do the best job possible and have her humanitarian heart,” said Deb.

Named in honor of the “Flat Stanley” children’s stories, “Flat Clara” has accompanied Deb on six deployments in less than a year. From the wildfires in Oregon to disaster assessments in Milwaukee, Clara is often seen hitched to the door handle of response vehicles or “donating” blood at local drives. 

“I have a new Red Cross vest, and it has a special loop on it; she fits perfectly in it so people can see her and ask me about it,” said Deb.

As Deb flies to Washington this week to complete her seventh deployment, Clara will be traveling with her, ready to continue the work she started over 140 years ago.