Historic Tree Grove: Clara Barton Red Bud

Eastern Red Bud

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) are small, deciduous trees that bloom with showy pinkish purple blossoms each spring before they put on leaves. This species is native to eastern North America from northern Ontario south to north Florida and is often found as a common under story tree in forests. 

Clara Barton's Red Bud:
The tree in our Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove dedicated to Clara Barton is a Red Bud. The Clara Barton Redbud can be found at her home in Glen Echo, Maryland in which Clara spent the last 15 years of her life. From 1897 until 1904 the house was not only her residence but also the headquarters of the American Red Cross. 

Clara Barton
Clara Barton (December 25, 1821 – April 12, 1912) was an American teacher, nurse and humanitarian. During the American Civil War she established a group that helped to obtain supplies for soldiers and then distribute them among the wounded. She rode in ambulances to give comfort to the wounded being transported for medical care and eventually was put in charge of hospitals for a large portion of the Union Army.

At the end of the war, Clara Barton was tasked with identifying the missing men from the Union Army. Barton worked with a soldier named Dorence Atwater who had been imprisoned at the grim Andersonville prison and had kept a list of nearly 13,000 dead Union soldiers from the prison camp. Atwater and Barton went to Andersonville where they marked the mass graves of the Union Soldiers and planted magnolia trees in their memory.

American Red Cross:
While visiting Europe, Clara Barton saw the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the humanitarian aid they provided during the Franco-Prussian war. When she returned to America Barton worked tirelessly to establish an American branch of the Red Cross. During the administration of President James Garfield, Barton received the funds and support that she needed. Established in 1881 the American Red Cross was designed to provide humanitarian aid during wars and also in times of any national crisis. Clara Barton became president of the American Red Cross and remained its head until she retired in 1904.

During the early years of the American red Cross volunteers responded to many disasters such as the Sea Island Hurricane and also provided relief to refugees and prisoners of war during the Spanish-American War.

A Garden for Medicine:

Clara Barton portrait by Holly Bird

As a tribute to Clara Barton and her establishment of the American Red Cross we chose to plant a garden of plants that have a long history of being used for medicine. Throughout history, medicines have been derived from flowers and herbs and many of the compounds upon which our modern medicines are based come originally from compounds found in plants. Learn more about the 19th Century Medicinal Garden and its current plantings here.

Clara Barton Artwork and Artists:

Artwork for the Clara Barton Red Bud informational sign was created by local artist Holly Bird.

Bench artwork was created by Florida artist and calligrapher Susan Gibeault. The design was inspired by the blue willow ware china on display at the Clara Barton home in Glen Echo, Maryland.