The role of gender, phrenology, discrimination and nervous prostration in Clara Barton's career

Clara Barton was 39 years old before she became involved in Civil War humanitarian activities. Prior to that time, three factors shaped her personality and her future: phrenology gave her philosophical principles to live by, especially “Know Thyself”; sex discrimination on her first two jobs steeled her for living in a male dominated Victorian era; and psychohygienic therapy for her long term nervous prostration, changed her behavioral approach to illness and to life. With these three influences in hand. Barton went on to gain world-wide adulation. During the Civil War, she was revered as the American Florence Nightingale, although she was not really a nurse. At age 55, Barton first embarked on the lengthy struggle to found the American Red Cross. She was president of the Red Cross for 23 years and rendered aid and comfort at a host of national and international calamities. She died at age 90 in her Glen Echo, Maryland home on April 12, 1912.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, State University of New York, Health Science Center, College of Medicine, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Box 43, Brooklyn, New York Allen D. Spiegel PhD, MPH ( Professor )
  1. Allen D. Spiegel PhD, MPH
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The author acknowledges partial support from a Continuing Faculty Development Award from the New York State/United University Professions Professional Development and Quality of Working Life Committee. Thanks to the following for rendered assistance: Joe Burns, Clara Barton National Historic Site; Patrick F. Gilbo, American Red Cross; Dr. Pascal James Imperato, SUNY, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, NY; Rutgers University, Library of Science and Medicine; Julie Semkow, Interlibrary Loan, SUNY, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, NY; Merrill S. Spiegel, JD, Washington, DC; Jack Termine, Archivist, SUNY, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, NY.

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Spiegel, A.D. The role of gender, phrenology, discrimination and nervous prostration in Clara Barton's career. J Community Health 20, 501–526 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02277066

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