Katharine Berry Richardson was known as the Lady of Mercy. As one of the founders of Children's Mercy she was also one of the biggest champions for the cause. She was devoted to not only to the hospital and to the care of all children. Trained as a medical doctor in a time when women were rarely accepted into medical schools, she was greatly ahead of her time. She served as the medical director from 1897-1933 and the hospital administrator from 1911-1933. Up until the week of her death in 1933, she was performing surgeries and running the hospital.