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Primary sourcePhotograph1904

Clara Barton, 1821-1912

J. E. Purdy · 1904

A studio photographic portrait of Clara Barton, the best-known lifetime image of her, held by the Library of Congress.

This lifetime portrait is the best-known photograph of Barton, showing her as the public recognized her.

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Black-and-white studio portrait of an older woman with dark hair pinned up in curls, wearing a dark dress with an ornate white lace collar and a dark brooch at the neck. She faces left with a slight closed-mouth smile. Copyright stamp reads 1904, J. E. Purdy, Boston.
Clara Barton, 1904. Photograph by J. E. Purdy, Boston. Library of Congress.

About this source

What it is

This is a black-and-white studio photograph of Clara Barton, showing her as an older woman in a dark dress with a lace collar and brooch. A copyright stamp dates the print to 1904, made by the photographer J. E. Purdy of Boston. The original photographic print is held by the Library of Congress.

Why it matters

This is the most widely reproduced lifetime photograph of Barton, taken during the years when she was internationally known for her Civil War relief work and for founding the American Red Cross. Photographs like this helped shape how the public pictured her as a figure of calm authority.

Look closer

  • What does her expression and pose suggest about how she wanted to be seen?
  • Why might a professional Boston studio have photographed her in 1904?
  • What does a formal portrait like this leave out about her daily work?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Clara Barton on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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