Mary Greeley Memorial Hospital was built by Capt. Wallace Greeley and given to the city of Ames, Iowa, in memory of his late wife, Mary (Young) Greeley. A former Civil War officer on the Union side, Capt. Greeley was a highly successful businessman in Ames, and had a variety of public service roles, including mayor of Ames and three terms in the Iowa Legislature. He and Mary also helped establish the Ames Public Library, which stills stands on land donated by the couple. Mary, a shy woman and a talented artist, was a member of the library board.