Prayer Rug

Turkey

The Turkish Sultan presented Miss Barton with this rug as a token of appreciation after the American Red Cross provided relief after Turkish-Armenian conflict in 1896. The relief effort could not have taken place without Miss Barton’s ability to secure permission from the rulers of the Ottoman Empire for American Red Cross workers to travel throughout the stricken regions.  She accomplished what even the International Red Cross had been unable to negotiate.  Miss Barton distributed over $115,000 in aid, despite the dangerous conditions during the religious wars.

Fabric. L 137, W 90.6 cm
Clara Barton National Historic Site, CLBA 809