Karen Vuranch, of Fayetteville, WV portrays Clara Barton, who earned the title ‘Angel of the Battlefield’ for her work during the American Civil War.
Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, will be portrayed by Karen Vuranch of Fayetteville at the Beverly Heritage Center in Beverly, WV on Sunday August 12 at 2:00 p.m. The presentation is possible through the History Alive! program of the West Virginia Humanities Council.
Barton, the first woman allowed to tend the wounded on the front lines during the Civil War, became known as “The Angel of the Battlefield.” She delivered medical supplies, established field hospitals, cooked for the wounded, cleaned operating rooms, and cared for the suffering from both North and South. After the war, she led a four-year search for missing soldiers. She is well known as the founder of the American Red Cross.
Barton is one of the many available character presentations offered through the West Virginia Humanities Council’s History Alive! program as a means of exploring history by interacting with noteworthy historical figures. These programs provide audiences with the opportunity to question those who have shaped our history.
Historical characterization is the vehicle for this program. Humanities scholars have carefully researched the writings, speeches and biographies of the characters they portray and whenever possible, use their original words.
The West Virginia Humanities Council is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing educational programs in the humanities for all West Virginians. For over 35 years, the Council has been providing educational programs in the humanities across the state.
This program is available to interested nonprofit groups such as libraries, museums, and historical societies. For more information, call the West Virginia Humanities Council at 346-8500 or visit the website: www.wvhumanities.org.
The Beverly Heritage Center is a museum, visitor center, and gift shop located in four historic buildings in the Beverly historic district six miles south of Elkins on US 219. The Beverly Heritage Center is a partnership between the Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation and Historic Beverly Preservation.
Summer hours are Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Beverly Heritage Center online at www.beverlyheritagecenter.org, or call (304) 637-7424.
