Clara Barton earned fame as the first woman to serve as a nurse on the front lines of a battlefield. This living-history program brings to life the story of Barton’s wartime work, including her decision to provide care for soldiers and her experiences working at battlefield hospitals. Her stories – funny, poignant, and sometimes heartbreaking – reveal the medical conditions of Civil War soldiers and the courage required for a woman to defy conventions during a national crisis.

Leslie Goddard, Ph.D., is an award-winning actress and scholar who has been portraying famous women and presenting history lectures for more than ten years.

She holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University specializing in U.S. history and American Studies as well as master's degrees in both theater and museum studies. A former museum director, she is the author of two books on Chicago history and currently works full-time as a historical interpreter, author, and public speaker.