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BARTON, Clara (1821–1912), SEARS, General William Henry (1858–1933). Typescript Character Reference Defending Clara Barton. November 27, 1916. 163 typed pages of statements written and compiled by General W.H. Sears and assisted by Julian Hubbell, both sworn under oath in the District of Columbia and signed by both authors and the notary (Charles A. Baker), in defense of charges and insinuations brought upon Barton’s character and achievements which are described by Sears as “malicious and slanderous”, concluding the reference with “if the party making these charges is ignorant of Clara Barton’s glorious record, then this record of achievement, unequalled by any other woman, should be placed in the hands of this defamer of character who digs into the graves of the dead for a victim, thus giving opportunity for public retraction and apology.” The information written by Sears was taken from Barton’s written works, published reports of Red Cross fields, newspaper reports, letters written by Barton to friends over a 60-year period, personal statements by Barton’s friends and field workers, and letters to and from Barton published in the public press. Ownership signature of W.H. Sears on ffep, several penciled corrections throughout. Provenance: General William Henry Sears worked as Clara Barton’s private secretary and field agent for fourteen years. Sears, former commander of the Kansas National Guard and a former Red Cross official, defends slanderous charges brought upon by Miss Mabel T., a boardman of the American Red Cross in Washington D.C., that prevented a bill from passing appropriating $1,000 for a bronze tablet made in memory and in honor of Clara Barton, to be placed in the Memorial or Red Cross building being erected in Washington D.C. These charges were first issued in 1904, when Sears again defended the claims brought on by John. H. Morlan, alleging that Barton had diverted funds donated for relief victims of a Russian famine and the Johnstown flood to personal use which were abruptly dropped, and no report was issued. Barton later resigned from the “lifelong Presidency” of the American Red Cross amidst these allegations.