Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 71
image_0 image_1
Clara Barton Writes to Massachusetts Pastor about Clara Barton Association
Clara Barton Writes to Massachusetts Pastor about Clara Barton Association
image_0 image_1
Description:

Clara Barton Writes to Massachusetts Pastor about Clara Barton Association

CLARA BARTON, Autograph Letter Signed, to William G. Haskell, February 5, 1876, New England Village (North Grafton), Massachusetts. 3 pp., 5.125" x 8". Expected folds; very good.

In this fascinating letter, Clara Barton writes to the pastor of the 2nd Unitarian Church in Lowell, Massachusetts, in response to a letter from him about a "Clara Barton Association" there. Regarding a biographical sketch, Barton admitted that she had "persistently withheld every scrap of information from all persons who sought it for publication" about her life.

In her response, Barton confuses the titles and authors of two books, Women of the War (1866) by Frank Moore, and Women's Work in the Civil War: A Record of Heroism, Patriotism and Patience (1867) by Linus P. Brockett. Moore's book surprisingly does not include a biography of Barton. He concludes, "The work of Clara Barton is known from Maine to Missouri. The close of the war has not terminated her industry nor furnished an opportunity to complete her admirable record." Brockett's volume includes a twenty-page chapter on Barton.

The Lowell Clara Barton Association was organized shortly before April 1, 1875, when it held its first "entertainment." In May 1876, the village of Lowell celebrated Memorial Day with a parade by the Grand Army of the Republic, an oration, and a complimentary supper for the veterans "by the ladies of the Clara Barton Association."

Complete Transcript
N. E. Village Mass. / Feby. 5th 1876
Rev. Mr. Haskell
Dear Sir
Your kind favor of Jany 27 recalls very distinctly our meeting several years ago in my native town, and I beg to thank you for remembering it also, and assure you of the great pleasure your letter has brought me.
I am glad to hear something directly from, or about the Association which has honored me by adopting my name. I was not quite ignorant of its existence for my eye sometimes caught a paragraph in a newspaper, and once or twice some friend had mentioned it to some other friend, but my real knowledge of it was very slight, but you have I trust opened a door through which we may later come to know each other as we should.
In regard to your request for information--There was an imperfect sketch given in L. P. Brocketts Women of the war, published in 1866 or 7 I think which you will probably find in your city library I have a copy which I would cheerfully send you but my library is boxed and inaccessible at present
This sketch, as far as it goes, is tolerably correct, at least, as much so perhaps as could be expected considering the difficulties under which it was obtained, for I persistently withheld every scrap of information from all persons who sought it for publication, and for the items forming this sketch I believe Mr Brocketts says he is indebted to some clergyman who had known me in earlier life. The engraving--"Patience knows" where it came from. I remember to have been fearfully complimented upon it, but I thought it did me more than justice, although it was never correct.
There is an article just now going the rounds of the press, which you may have seen, a short sketch from the NY Evening Mail which brings matters down to a later period. I have a spare copy which I will send you, and this will a sufficient answer to your kind suggestion that I meet the members of the Association at some approaching sociable I have no words which would fully express the pleasure such a meeting would give me, enhanced as it would be by the privilege of being your guest the while. For the present that surely cannot be. I will not say I have no hope it may come later, for all things are possible with Him who ruleth all things. But I will say this, that if ever it come to a possibility I will do it even as you suggest Meanwhile I will, if I remain as strong as today, write again a little line to the Association itself, and address it in your care, to read to them.
Again thanking you for the pleasure you have afforded me, and daring to hope sometimes to hear from a brother in the faith I remain
Sincerely and fraternally yours
Clara Barton

[Integral address:] Rev. Wm G. Haskell / Pastor 2nd Universalist church / Lowell Mass.

Clara Barton (1821-1912) was born in Massachusetts and received a good education though she was painfully shy. Her parents persuaded her to become a schoolteacher and she received her teacher's certificate in 1839. After working as a teacher for a dozen years, she attended the Clinton Liberal Institute in New York to continue her education. In 1852, she successfully opened a free school in Bordentown, the first free school in New Jersey. Demoted after the town built a new school building and hired a male principal, Barton quit. In 1855, she moved to Washington, D.C., and began work as a clerk in the Patent Office, the first woman to receive a substantial clerkship and equal pay with a man. After three years, the administration of James Buchanan fired her because of her "Black Republican" political views. After living with friends in Massachusetts for three years, she returned to Washington and took a position as temporary copyist in the Patent Office. After the Baltimore Riot of April 1861 against Massachusetts troops, Barton nursed forty of the victims back to health and learned valuable lessons about aiding soldiers. She began collecting medical supplies and distributing them to soldiers. In August 1862, she received permission from Quartermaster Daniel Rucker to work on the front lines. Throughout the war, she distributed medicine and food to wounded soldiers in close proximity to the battles of Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In 1864, General Benjamin Butler placed her in charge of hospitals at the front of the Army of the James. For her Civil War service, Barton became known as the "Angel of the Battlefield" and the "Florence Nightingale of America." After the war, she ran the Office of Missing Soldiers in Washington, helping to locate the remains of more than 22,000 missing soldiers. She also lectured about her experiences and became associated with the women's suffrage movement and the civil rights movement for African Americans. In 1869, she became acquainted with the Red Cross in Switzerland and aided military hospitals during the Franco-Prussian War. In 1881, she founded the American Red Cross and became its first president. She continued to work in the field in response to natural disasters and wars as late as 1900.

William G. Haskell (1839-1912) was born in Massachusetts. He served as a lieutenant in the Civil War. In 1866, he became president of the Military and Naval Orphan Society in Bath, Maine, while he lived in Lewiston, Maine. He was ordained a Universalist minister in 1867 in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and served as pastor for some time in Minnesota before serving as pastor of the Second Universalist church in Lowell, Massachusetts, from 1873 to 1876. Just weeks after receiving this letter from Barton, Haskell resigned as pastor on March 12, 1876. In 1878, he became the pastor of a Universalist church in Lewiston, Maine. He remained in Lewiston until at least 1883, then appeared in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1895. By 1900, he lived in Washington, D.C., where he died in 1912, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was also a poet and composed several poems for publication.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.


Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.


Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

June 30, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000