Lydia Moss Bradley (July 31, 1816 – January 16, 1908) was a wealthy bank president and philanthropist notable for her philanthropic works.

[2] According to her National Women's Hall of Fame biographical sketch, Lydia Moss "grew up on the frontier" and was "educated in a log home.

Bradley was also one of the first American women ever to draft a marriage contract (a "prenuptial agreement" in modern terms) to protect her assets, which she filed when she married Memphis businessman Edward Clark in December 1869.

[7] The land remained unused for a decade, which prompted Bradley to offer an additional 100 acres should the city form a park district.

[7] As part of the land agreement, Bradley stipulated that the board "shall not license or permit the sale or distribution of intoxicating drinks, or allow gambling, betting or games of chance, or boisterous conduct, or immoral or indecorous language or behavior within said park.

[9] Today the university enjoys the status of a fully accredited, independent institution that provides undergraduate and graduate education in engineering, business, communication, teacher education, nursing, physical therapy, fine arts, and the liberal arts and sciences.

Initially diagnosed with internal inflammation, she briefly improved under the care of her physician, but her health then declined once again following a revised diagnosis of "la grippe" in early January 1908.