In the spring of 1898, a 5-year-old Seattle boy named Willis Clise suffered and eventually died of what was called “inflammatory rheumatism.” There was no treatment,and no doctor west of Philadelphia who specialized in childhood ailments. Willis’s mother, Anna Clise, embarked on a mission to create an association dedicated to providing surgical and other hospital care to children, regardless of class, race, or ability to pay.

She organized a board of like-minded Seattle women and in 1908 opened an eight-bed treatment and recovery facility. Today Seattle Children’s is a regional medical center, a leader in pediatric medicine research, and is consistently ranked among the top 10 children’s hospitals in the nation. This book recounts the history of a remarkable institution and its impact on Seattle and on the thousands of patients it has served.

Seattle historian Walt Crowley was the author of more than a dozen books and a cofounder of HistoryLink.org. David W. Wilma, former HistoryLink.org deputy director, is a freelance writer.