Video: 'Clara Barton: The Beginnings of the American Red Cross'

(Saturday, May 21, 1881) — The American Red Cross (ARC), a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States, was founded today by pioneering American nurse Clara Barton in Dansville, New York.

Barton founded the American chapter after learning of the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1869, she went to Europe and became involved in the work of the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War and was determined to bring the organization to America.