Hospitals are often named for specific reasons. Municipal hospitals, for example, might be named after their locality, while others are associated with universities or named after churches or religious figures. But when a KCQ reader heard a relative mention Queen of the World Hospital, she was intrigued by its unusual name and wanted to learn more. 

The hospital’s story stretches back through Kansas City's history, long before anyone thought of the name Queen of the World.

In the late 19th century, Kansas City lacked a facility to care for abandoned infants. In 1899, a group of concerned citizens, supported by the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City, addressed this need by purchasing a 3-acre tract at 23rd Street and College Avenue. The property included an eight-bedroom house, which became the site of St. Anthony’s Home for Infants. 

Over the years, the management of the facility changed hands. The Sisters of St. Mary were initially assigned to the home in 1899 but were replaced by another Roman Catholic community, the Sisters of Charity, a year later. When the Sisters of Charity withdrew in 1908, the Daughters of Charity assumed responsibility the following year, offering steady leadership that would span more than four decades.

Read the rest of the story at KCHistory.org.