For Clara Barton, every Tuesday was Giving Tuesday.

Even for before her Civil War work made her saintly celebrity, Clara committed her life to helping others in need. First, Clara worked as a teacher and even established free public schools for students who would have otherwise gone ignored and untaught.

During the Civil War, not only did Clara brave the battlefield as a first responder, she organized a massive drive for the donation and delivery of supplies that were desperately needed by Union soldiers. When Clara Barton arrived at a field hospital during the Battle of Antietam, the surgeons were wrapping wounds in corn leaves because they had run out of bandages. Clara’s delivery of bandages, corn meal, wine, and lanterns seemed like divine intervention.

In order to sustain and support her war work, Clara Barton relied on donations from friends and strangers alike. She wrote to friends back home and published articles, describing what she had seen and asking for donations.

Clara was not paid for her war work. Instead, she was technically employed by the United State Patent Office throughout the war. Clara had been working at the Patent Office before the war, and her co-workers continued doing Clara’s work for her so Clara could continue drawing her salary between journeys to and from the battlefield.

Like Clara Barton, we at the museum rely on the support of others to continue doing our good work. This Giving Tuesday, when you donate to the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office, your donation will go towards making sure educational programming is available in the museum and online for learners of all ages. A donation of any size is greatly appreciated. If you donate a hundred dollars of more you will be recognized as one of our Centennial Funders, with your contribution recognized on our Centennial Fund wall. 

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