• Clara Barton

    Clara Barton (b. December 25, 1821; d. April 12, 1912) was a humanitarian, teacher, nurse—and both the founder and first president of the American Red Cross. She was fearless in her pursuits and passionate about helping others. She became a teacher when there were few women teachers and forwent a salary so that children could attend school at no cost. She took to the…more»

  • Anna Julia Cooper

    Anna Julia Cooper (b. August 10, 1858; d. February 27, 1964) was an African-American woman who dedicated her 106 years on earth to education. She was born into slavery in 1858 and became one of the most accomplished African-American scholars in early American history, and only the fourth black woman to earn a doctorate degree. She was a passionate public speaker and fearlessly voiced…more»

  • Frederick Douglass

    Frederick Douglass (b. February 1818; d. February 20, 1895) was born into slavery, the son of an enslaved woman and a white man. He lived on a plantation on Maryland’s Eastern Shore until age 8, when he was sent to Baltimore to live and work for relatives of his slave master. He remained there for seven years. After first arriving, his mistress taught him…more»