From the 1920's to 1950, Georgia Tann collected over $500,000.00 buying and selling children through what she called The Tennessee Children's Home Society. She preyed upon unwed mothers needing to keep secrets, and indigent families unable to care for yet another child in an already too big family. Tann lied. If she needed a specific type of child to market to potential parents, she would tell the surrendering parents she would care for their child until they were able. In reality they were signing over rights to the child. Tann had many tricks up her nasty sleeve. She also had politicians, lawyers, doctors, and social workers in her pocket. She changed the children's names, birth dates, nationalities, and religion to suit the wishes of purchasing parents.
Lisa Wingate wrote Before We were Yours, a critical account of Tann's retail business and the children she trained to be ready for sale at a moment's notice. Shortly after the book's publication Wingate began receiving emails and letters from those adopted children. Now in their 70's and 80's, they enthusiastically shared their stories with her. Before and After recounts the stories of fifteen Tann children. Most are heartbreaking accounts of how these children became separated from their families. Most were raised as only children and only a handful were told the fictionalized stories of their adoptions. Sadly, there was a stigma attached to being an adoptee. Seldom did these kids have friends. After all who wanted to be friends with the kid whose mom and dad gave him away?
Eventually, new laws made it possible for the grown adoptees, or their spouses and children to search records for information on their background. Some simply were curious. others wanted medical histories, and many longed to fill a void they had felt for a lifetime. This book is about the importance of connections, personal histories and truth. Mostly, it is about family - however you define it.
Thanks for stopping by.Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay happy.Only two Mondays until spring.
From the 1920's to 1950, Georgia Tann collected over $500,000.00 buying and selling children through what she called The Tennessee Children's Home Society. She preyed upon unwed mothers needing to keep secrets, and indigent families unable to care for yet another child in an already too big family. Tann lied. If she needed a specific type of child to market to potential parents, she would tell the surrendering parents she would care for their child until they were able. In reality they were signing over rights to the child. Tann had many tricks up her nasty sleeve. She also had politicians, lawyers, doctors, and social workers in her pocket. She changed the children's names, birth dates, nationalities, and religion to suit the wishes of purchasing parents.
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