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Richmond's career in social work started in 1889 with the Charity Organization Society (COS)(Steyaert, n.d.). Richmond's hard work led her to be offered a leadership position as director of the charity department. This was the beginning to Richmonds successful career in social work. This is also the point in time when Mary Richmond wrote her first book, Friendly Visiting among the Poor.

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Mary Richmond's most famous book is called, Social Diagnosis, which is based on her wide range of knowledge in "history, law, logic, medical social work, psychology, and psychiatry" (Mary Ellen Richmond* (1861-1928), n.d.). This was the first time any sort of theory or methods on identifying problems of clients was ever created. Mary Richmond is the reason we have case work today, which is how we are able to do our jobs as social workers. Mary Richmond defined case work as, "those processes which develop personality through adjustments consciously effected, individual by individual, between men and their social environment" (Mary Ellen Richmond* (1861-1928), n.d.).

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Mary Richmond founded social diagnosis and the main principle of social diagnosis was that "care had to focus on the person within her or his situation" (Steyaert, n.d.). "Richmond identified six sources of power that are available to clients and their social workers: sources within the household, in the person of the client, in the neighbourhood and wider social network, in civil agencies, in private and public agencies" (Steyaert, n.d.). Mary Richmond was dedicated to giving clients a voice and allowing them a say and more involvement in solving their problems. We see this kind of approach in social work today with having clients have more of a say in their treatment.

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Mary Ellen Richmond* (1861-1928). NASW Social Workers Pioneers Bio Index. (n.d.). Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https://www.naswfoundation.org/Our-Work/NASW-Social-Work-Pioneers/NASW-Social-Workers-Pioneers-Bio-Index/id/477
Social Welfare History Project (2011). Mary Ellen Richmond (1861-1928) – Social work pioneer, administrator, researcher and author. Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved from https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/social-work/richmond-mary/
Steyaert, J. (n.d.). The Founding Mother of Case Work. History of social work, details. Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https://historyofsocialwork.org/eng/details.php?cps=7

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Mary Richmond was born August 5th, 1861 in Belleville, Illinois. Her parents died at a young age, therefore, she was raised by her Grandmother. Richmond's grandmother was a women's suffragist, therefore, Richmond grew up surrounded by discussions about "suffrage, racial problems, spiritualism, and a variety of liberal religious, social, and political beliefs" (Social Welfare History Project, n.d.).

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During her time with COS, Mary Richmond fought for legislation for deserted wives and "founded the Pennsylvania Child Labor Committee, the Public Charities Association, the juvenile court, and the Housing Association" (Mary Ellen Richmond* (1861-1928), n.d.). She was an advocate in professionalizing social work and fighting for the welfare of children and women (Social Welfare History Project, n.d.). Without Mary Richmond, social work would most likely not be the profession that it is today.

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Mary Richmond was committed to making sure families got correct and the most beneficial services. Mary Richmond was trained as a friendly visitor and aspired to train her staff to be friendly visitors as well in order to work with families more structurally (Social Welfare History Project, n.d.). Being a friendly visitor allowed Mary Richmond to gain a better understanding of what poor people deal with day to day. This fight of hers is what led to her writing the book, Friendly Visiting among the Poor.