Building covenantal relationships among Unitarian Universalist women that equip us all to be better co-conspirators and allies in the movement for collective liberation.

Clara Barton Sisterhood

Universalist Clara Barton is best known for her work in organizing nursing services during the Civil War and, later, founding the American Red Cross. She did not start this work until she was over 40 — in an era when many women died before reaching that age.

Our Clara Barton Sisterhood was created in her name as a way for local women’s groups, congregations, and individuals to honor women aged 80 and over for their contributions to their congregations and communities. The application form for a Clara Barton Sisterhood nomination can be downloaded here.

Also now available online: In Sisterhood, the 1989 publication of the life stories of Clara Barton Sisterhood members. (Note: This is a large PDF file and may take a while to download.) If you are doing research or would like a more comprehensive list of Sisterhood members, we have an Excel file containing over 750 names of women, the communities that honored them, and the year. Please feel free to contact our administrator for a copy.

Please join us in welcoming some of our newest Clara Barton Sisters:

2023

Barb Clagett (East Shore Unitarian Women’s Perspective, Bellevue, WA)

Dana Ivey (All Souls Unitarian Church NYC, NY)

Inge Theisen
(Northlake UU Church Women’s Group, WA)

Milly Mullarky (East Shore Unitarian Women’s Perspective, Bellevue, WA)

Barbara Owen
(First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist, Newburyport, MA)

Not pictured

Nancy Crisco (Women's Alliance of First Parish UU of Arlington, MA)

Judy Dederick (First Unitarian Congregational Society Brooklyn, NY)

Kit Harrington Hayes (Women's Alliance of First Parish UU of Arlington, MA)

Cheryl Ann Renninger Minton (Women's Alliance of First Parish UU of Arlington, MA)

Anita Wald-Tuttle (UU Community of the Mountains Women's Group, Grass Valley, CA)

Nancy Witherell (First Unitarian Congregational Society Brooklyn, NY)

2022

Kathleen Dillon
(UU Church in Eugene, OR)

Lori Rittle
(First UU Nashville, TN)

Joan O'Hara
(First Parish UU Church of Kennebunk, ME)

Not pictured

Judy Barrington (Dedham Branch Alliance, MA)

Dorothy Hopper (Women's Perspective, East Shore Unitarian Church, Bellevue, WA)

Janet Hurwitz (Dedham Branch Alliance, MA)
Georgia Larson (Women's Leadership Alliance at First Unitarian Congregational Society, Brooklyn, NY)
Beryl Martin (UU of Southern Delaware, Lewes, DE)

Elizabeth F. Martin (Dedham Branch Alliance, MA)

MaryAnne Osborne (Dedham Branch Alliance, MA)

Lois Fine Wainstock (Women's Alliance of First Parish UU of Arlington, MA)
JoAnne Way (Women's Perspective, East Shore Unitarian Church, Bellevue, WA)
Nancy Welles (Women's Leadership Alliance at First Unitarian Congregational Society, Brooklyn, NY)

Susan White (Dedham Branch Alliance, MA)

Virginia Wilson (UU Fellowship of Franklin, NC)
Joan Wislocki (Dedham Branch Alliance, MA)

2021

Rev. Ellen Livingston
(Monte Vista UU Congregation Board of Trustees, Claremont, CA)

Note: Rev. Ellen received her award with COVID-19 social distancing protocols in place

Not pictured
Pat Hadley (Women's Alliance of the First Church Unitarian, Littleton, MA)
Gwenyth Hooper (Women’s Alliance of First Parish Unitarian Universalist, Arlington, MA)
Natalie Tyler (Women’s Alliance of First Parish Unitarian Universalist, Arlington, MA)
Mary Ann Van Osdol (The Women's Alliance, Unitarian Church of All Souls New York, NY)
Barbara Whitcomb (Women's Alliance of the First Church Unitarian, Littleton, MA)
Joyce Williams (Women's Alliance of the First Church Unitarian, Littleton, MA)

2020

Connee Gates
(South Valley UU Society, Salt Lake City, UT)

Note: Connee received her award with COVID-19 social distancing protocols in place

President Kit Ketchum honored Phyllis Stenerson (top right) and Janet Merrill (Association of Universalist Women, Minneapolis, MN).

Not pictured
Mary Dugan (The Women's Alliance, Unitarian Church of All Souls New York, NY)
Mary J. Geissman (Women's Alliance, Unitarian Church of All Souls, New York, NY)
Deborah Noyes Lewis (Women's Alliance, First Parish UU, Arlington, MA)
Anne C. Olson (Rev. Dr. Quiyamah A. Rahman, Decatur, GA)
Jeanie Wing (Women's Leadership Alliance, First Unitarian Church, Brooklyn, NY)

2019

Marion Dane Bauer
(Association of Universalist Women, First Universalist Church, Minneapolis MN)

Barbara Bollag
(Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship Women's Group, Bloomington MN)

Meg "Bowoman" Bowman
(Women's Alliance of the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, CA)

Arleen Kulin & Lenore Winkler
(Women's Alliance of First Parish UU, Arlington MA)

Margaret Roseboom
(First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, OK)

Joan Moore
(First UU Nashville, TN)

Not pictured
Barbara Breer (Women's Alliance, UU Area Church at First Parish, Sherborn, MA)
Mary Donald (Branch Alliance of Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church, MA)
Sandra Ekberg (Women's Alliance, Unitarian Church of All Souls New York, NY)
Mimi Ford (Starr King UU Fellowship, Plymouth, NH)
Pat Gottschalk (Association of Universalist Women, Minneapolis, MN
Joyce Henricks (UU Fellowship of Central Michigan, Mount Pleasant)
Sydelle Lopez (UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset, NY)
Marilyn Mehr (The Women's Alliance, Unitarian Church of All Souls New York, NY)
Sally Sabo (UU Women's Fellowship of Santa Fe, NM)
Maxine Steeves (First Religious Society UU, Newburyport, MA)

2018

Jean Nagle & Ann Abbott
(Alliance of the First Parish UU Church in Arlington, MA)

Joan Hawthorne
(UU Fellowship of Franklin, NC)

Constance Newsom
(Women's Leadership Alliance at First Unitarian Church, Brooklyn NY)

Joan Boewe & Ann Stebbins
(UU Fellowship of Madison County, Richmond KY)

Mary Rhodes
(YuYu Sisterhood of UUCF Fullerton, CA)

Not pictured

Billye Cutchen (UU Church of Pensacola, FL)
Judy Davis (Granite Peak UU Congregation, Prescott AZ)
Maureen Marwick (Women’s Alliance of All Souls Unitarian Church, New York NY)
Karen McGrath (UU Women's Fellowship of Santa Fe, NM)
Marge Meyermann (Women’s Spirituality Group of First Unitarian Church, Wilmington DE)
Peggy Montgomery (Women’s Alliance of All Souls Unitarian Church, New York NY)
Ann Morgan (UU Women's Fellowship of Santa Fe, NM
Janet Couture Nortrom (First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, WI)
Jane Parrish (Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship Women's Group, Bloomington MN)

Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

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