Northeast Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Founders of Children's Mercy Hospital

Dr. Alice Berry Graham • Dr. Katharine Berry Richardson

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2013

1. Founders of Children's Mercy Hospital Marker

Inscription.

Founders of Children's Mercy Hospital. Dr. Alice Berry Graham . Dr. Katharine Berry Richardson. , Dr. Alice Berry Graham , Born: Warren, Pennsylvania 1850 , Died: Kansas City, Missouri 1913, Dr. Katharine Berry Richardson , Born: Flat Rock, Kentucky 1860 , Died: Kansas City, Missouri 1933, This bridge honors the lives and legacies of Dr. Alice Berry Graham and her sister, Dr. Katharine Berry Richardson, founders of the Children's Mercy Hospital. In an age where very few women were in the medical profession, Katharine attended medical school in Pennsylvania while her sister, Alice worked as a teacher and paid her expenses. After graduation, Katharine supported Alice as she went to dental school. Katharine moved to Wisconsin to start her practice. They both married. After Alice became a widow, she moved West to be with her sister. They moved to Kansas City about 1893., In 1897, after rescuing and caring for an abused crippled child, the sisters devoted themselves to treating children no matter if there was payment for services or not. They established a "Free Bed Fund" to rent bed space at the Women's and Children's Hospital at 15th and Cleveland. Alice raised money [f]or the Fund and Katharine provided surgical and medical care. In 1904, they opened their own hospital at 414 Highland with the official name of "Mercy Hospital.", After Dr. Graham died in 1914 her sister continued the work they had started. Dr. Richardson placed the following citation on the cornerstone of the new Mercy Hospital building which opened in 1916 at 1710 Independence Avenue: "In 1897 Dr. Alice Berry Graham founded this hospital for sick and crippled children, to be forever non-sectarian, non-local and for those who cannot pay." Dr. Richardson ran the hospital, raised money for its operation, and treated patients there, acquiring a staff of physicians and surgeons who volunteered their time. Dr. Richardson lived on Clinton Place in the northeast area of town and probably used this bridge on her trips to and from the hospital., Dr. Richardson also established a pediatric training program for black doctors and nurses at the Wheatley-Provident Hospital, a hospital for black patients. She died in 1933., Children's Mercy Hospital moved to 2401 Gillham Road in 1970.

Dr. Alice Berry Graham
Born: Warren, Pennsylvania 1850
Died: Kansas City, Missouri 1913

Dr. Katharine Berry Richardson
Born: Flat Rock, Kentucky 1860
Died: Kansas City, Missouri 1933

This bridge honors the lives and legacies of Dr. Alice Berry Graham and her sister, Dr. Katharine Berry Richardson, founders of the Children's Mercy Hospital. In an age where very few women were in the medical profession, Katharine attended medical school in Pennsylvania while her sister, Alice worked as a teacher and paid her expenses. After graduation, Katharine supported Alice as she went to dental school. Katharine moved to Wisconsin to start her practice. They both married. After Alice became a widow, she moved West to be with her sister. They moved to Kansas City about 1893.

In 1897, after rescuing and caring for an abused crippled child, the sisters devoted themselves to treating children no matter if there was payment for services or not. They established a "Free Bed Fund" to rent bed space at the Women's and Children's Hospital at 15th and Cleveland. Alice raised money [f]or the Fund and Katharine provided surgical and medical care. In 1904, they opened their own hospital at 414 Highland with the official name of "Mercy Hospital."

After Dr. Graham died in 1914 her sister

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continued the work they had started. Dr. Richardson placed the following citation on the cornerstone of the new Mercy Hospital building which opened in 1916 at 1710 Independence Avenue: "In 1897 Dr. Alice Berry Graham founded this hospital for sick and crippled children, to be forever non-sectarian, non-local and for those who cannot pay." Dr. Richardson ran the hospital, raised money for its operation, and treated patients there, acquiring a staff of physicians and surgeons who volunteered their time. Dr. Richardson lived on Clinton Place in the northeast area of town and probably used this bridge on her trips to and from the hospital.

Dr. Richardson also established a pediatric training program for black doctors and nurses at the Wheatley-Provident Hospital, a hospital for black patients. She died in 1933.

Children's Mercy Hospital moved to 2401 Gillham Road in 1970.

Erected by Kansas City, Missouri Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 39° 6.709′ N, 94° 32.751′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Jackson County. It is in Northeast Kansas City. Marker is at the intersection of Gladstone Boulevard and Anderson

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2013

2. Founders of Children's Mercy Hospital Marker

Looking SE across Gladstone Boulevard

Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Gladstone Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kansas City MO 64124, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Gladstone Boulevard Bridge over Anderson Avenue (a few steps from this marker); Scarritt Point Neighborhood (approx. 0.4 miles away); Scarritt Point (approx. 0.4 miles away); Independence Boulevard (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Independence Boulevard (approx. half a mile away); Garrison Field House (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Rebirth of Twelfth and Vine (approx. 1.2 miles away); Goin' to Kansas City Plaza (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.

Also see . . .
1. Our History: Celebrating 125 Years. Children's Mercy website homepage (Submitted on March 25, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. Alice Berry Graham (1850 - 1913) and Katherine Berry Richardson (1858-1933). Women in Health Sciences website entry (Submitted on March 25, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Image of Children's Mercy Hospitalon Founders Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, undated

3. Image of Children's Mercy Hospitalon Founders Marker

Image on Founders of Children's Mercy Hospital Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, undated

4. Image on Founders of Children's Mercy Hospital Marker

Dr. Alice Berry Graham

Photographed By Unknown, undated

5. Image on Founders of Children's Mercy Hospital Marker

Dr. Katharine Berry Richardson

Gladstone Boulevard Bridge over Anderson Avenue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 15, 2013

6. Gladstone Boulevard Bridge over Anderson Avenue

Re-named in honor of the Founders of Children's Mercy Hospital

<i> Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.</i> image. Click for full size.

Postcard by Hall Bros., circa 1922

7. Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.

The caption on the back of the card reads, "Mercy Hospital, a charitable institution for crippled orphans. Over 6,500 unfortunate children are taken care of yearly."

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 865 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 25, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 7. submitted on September 5, 2015.