Clara Barton Signed Letter "no one can control your interests.." PSA Auto

Title:
Clara Barton TLS on "What a glorious report is that you made, not to "owe a dollar in the world." This grasping world of uncertainties! How beautiful and safe it is to know that no one can control your interests or even your pleasures." — PSA/DNA Certified (Cert #AS01147)

Description:
This is a poignant Typed Letter Signed (TLS) by Clara Barton, written near the end of her life and dated December 28, 1909, from her Glen Echo, Maryland residence. Addressed to her beloved relative Dr. Herbert P. Barton at the Clara Barton Hospital in Los Angeles, this two-page holiday letter expresses deep gratitude, nostalgia, and a heartfelt longing for family togetherness. The letter is boldly signed in Clara Barton’s hand, “Most Affectionately, Clara Barton,” and has been authenticated by PSA/DNA, Certification #AS01147.

Typed on thin, personal paper with blue ink, the letter measures approximately 8.5" x 11" and is in very good condition, with only light age toning and typical mailing folds. PSA confirms that all additional writing is in Barton’s hand, including her warm closing signature.

Full Transcription of Letter (verbatim):

Glen Echo, Maryland,
December 28, 1909.

Dr. Herbert P. Barton,
The Clara Barton Hospital,
Los Angeles, Calif.

My dear Herbert,

I think I shall have to get up a weekly form of acknowledgement for checks, if this keeps up. Having found and just drawn the missing one, they fell very plentifully this Holiday month. It almost seems to me that you must have in some way divined that I had had a rather drawing year and are trying to fill up the crevices. You are certainly doing it.

I thought of you all day on Christmas and wished you were here. Uncle Stevie you know only missed the 25th., by a few hours; he came to enliven Christmas Eve, and a very lively addition he has made to it.

What a glorious report is that you made, not to "owe a dollar in the world." This grasping world of uncertainties! How beautiful and safe it is to know that no one can control your interests or even your pleasures.

I do hope we shall get a Christmas Day or some day together. I am anxious to see our boy Chandler, and I am so proud of the rising generation of the family stock, and well I may be, they are a credit to the race of Bartons whatever name they bear.

Will not Fanny and Chandler come East this summer, and you I hope sometime?
Most Affectionately,
Clara Barton.

Historical Context:
Written just three years before her death, this letter reveals Clara Barton’s enduring devotion to her family even in her advanced years. Though retired from her formal leadership role with the American Red Cross, Barton continued to mentor and correspond with those she loved—especially Dr. Herbert P. Barton, her nephew and administrator of the Clara Barton Hospital in Los Angeles.

In this warm and humorous post-Christmas message, Barton expresses appreciation for Herbert’s financial support—delivered in the form of checks she jokingly suggests now arrive so reliably that she needs a standardized acknowledgment. She fondly recalls “Uncle Stevie” (likely Captain Stephen Barton), and shares her admiration for Chandler Barton, the “rising generation” of the Barton family.

What stands out most in this letter is Clara’s reflection on security and self-sufficiency, celebrating Herbert’s financial independence and moral clarity:

“What a glorious report is that you made, not to ‘owe a dollar in the world.’”

This sentiment captures Barton’s lifelong belief in ethical responsibility and personal resilience—values she championed in war zones, disaster relief efforts, and in private life.

Authentication & Encapsulation:
This item is certified authentic by PSA/DNA, with Letter of Authenticity dated October 13, 2025, Certification Number AS01147.

• PSA confirms the authenticity of the typed letter and Clara Barton’s handwritten signature.

• A tamper-evident PSA authentication sticker is affixed to the LOA.

• Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer’s request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional “Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate” signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.

Closing Appeal:
A heartfelt window into Clara Barton’s personal world, this 1909 holiday letter bridges the public and private lives of one of America’s most revered humanitarian figures. Its themes of gratitude, family pride, and moral resilience are as resonant today as they were over a century ago. Authenticated and beautifully preserved, this Typed Letter Signed by Barton is a moving testament to her lifelong care for loved ones—and an ideal centerpiece for any serious collection of American or women’s history.

Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.