Babies for Sale: The Tennessee Children's Home Adoption ScandalBloomsbury Academic, 1993 M06 21 - 192 pages In 1950, the Governor of Tennessee called for an investigation of the Tennessee Children's Home black market baby operations, said to have grossed $1 million for Georgia Tann, the superintendent of the local branch of the home. Tann was accused of fraudulently persuading pregnant mothers to relinquish their children. A number of Hollywood celebrities adopted children through the home, namely Joan Crawford, June Allyson, and Dick Powell. During the investigation, local attorneys and justices were found to be part of the scandalous network of adoption that allowed adoptive parents to be out-of-state residents. The story is dramatic and shows southern politics at its worst--congenial, respected public figures running shady deals in the back room. Thousands of children were placed in adopted homes during the agency's operation. Each case is a fascinating story involving the search and reunion of adopted children with their natural families. |
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Abe Waldauer adopt a child adopted children adoption laws adoption records adoptive couples adoptive parents agency Angeles Arkema asked attorney baby bill birth parents black market boarding homes Browning Browning's California Camille Kelley Child Welfare League children for adoption Children's Home Society Commercial Appeal Commissioner Crump machine custody delinquency Department of Public E. H. Crump election Estes Kefauver father filed Georgia Tann Gordon Browning governor habeas corpus Heiskell House Ibid informed Interstate Adoption Practice investigation January Judge Kelley July Juvenile Court Kefauver hearings Kefauver Subcommittee Kelley's lawyer legislation maternity home McMahan Memphis Press Scimitar Miller Mississippi Nashville Tennessean natural families natural mother natural parents operation Oral interview orphanages petition place children placement Probate Court probation officers Public Welfare relinquished reported reunion Robert Taylor sealed records Senator September 1950 Shelby County Sipple social workers statute Tann's Tennessee Children's Home testified told unwed mothers visited wanted Welfare Department woman York