LaBudde Special Collections became the repository for the Children’s Mercy Hospital Collection in spring 2015. The large assemblage of material is contained in 66 manuscript boxes and 24 photograph boxes. There is much background material, such as personal narratives and booklets, as well as biographical sketches of Dr. Katherine Berry Richardson and Dr. Alice Berry Graham, sisters and co-founders of the hospital. Another person of interest would be Elizabeth Martin, R.N., who came to Children’s Mercy in 1936 as Hospital Administrator and remained until 1955. In 1937 she adopted a three year old boy, Grover, who was then a patient at Children’s Mercy, making her the first single woman in Missouri to adopt a child. Series VIII has been dedicated to her memory.

The breadth of the collection is most extensive and encompasses all aspects required to develop and maintain such an institution: correspondence, board of directors’ activities, finances, reports, the former School of Nursing, pediatric residents, research and development, social services, ephemera, memorabilia, etc. In fact, the nucleus of Children’s Mercy Hospital was evolved through the hearts and souls of the doctors, nurses, staff, volunteers and board members. With the generosity of numerous donors they gather together in every sense a true family, demonstrating endless compassion for the young patients and their families throughout the years. It started in 1897 Kansas City when physicians Richardson and Graham began with only one patient and one bed. The trials and tribulations that follow are recounted throughout this collection. What at one time seemed almost daunting was indeed attainable. A plethora of photographs with young patients of all ages and some of their families are both compelling and inspirational. For researchers in a number of fields of study, there are many stories to be told here, from many angles.

Audio and video recordings from the Kansas City based Children's Mercy Hospital