Chapter
The History of Adoption in the United States
47:35 - 54:10 (06:35)
Georgia Tan's work made it easier for families to adopt but came at a cost, as she often kidnapped and trafficked children. Adoption was once stigmatized, but now has become an increasingly popular way for families to grow.
Clips
An advertisement from December 1935 promotes a five-year-old boy named George as a companion to play catch with and give bear-like hugs to anyone who asks for him.
47:35 - 48:26 (00:51)
Summary
An advertisement from December 1935 promotes a five-year-old boy named George as a companion to play catch with and give bear-like hugs to anyone who asks for him. The ad shows disturbing undertones, given the language used and other topics being discussed in the podcast episode.
ChapterThe History of Adoption in the United States
EpisodePart One: The Woman Who Invented Adoption (By Stealing Thousands of Babies)
PodcastBehind the Bastards
Georgia Tann, a social worker, ran an illegal adoption scheme in the 1930s where she abducted and sold babies to wealthy families.
48:26 - 49:30 (01:04)
Summary
Georgia Tann, a social worker, ran an illegal adoption scheme in the 1930s where she abducted and sold babies to wealthy families. She used successful Christmas ads to market the kidnapped children and had an ever-growing list of clients to cater to.
ChapterThe History of Adoption in the United States
EpisodePart One: The Woman Who Invented Adoption (By Stealing Thousands of Babies)
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The complexity of adoption before Georgia Tann made it a household word in the region; charging fees for transporting children to their new homes.
49:30 - 51:23 (01:52)
Summary
The complexity of adoption before Georgia Tann made it a household word in the region; charging fees for transporting children to their new homes.
ChapterThe History of Adoption in the United States
EpisodePart One: The Woman Who Invented Adoption (By Stealing Thousands of Babies)
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The transcript discusses the unequal adoption fees charged by Georgia Tan, where California residents were charged less for the first installment while New York residents paid more.
51:23 - 52:01 (00:38)
Summary
The transcript discusses the unequal adoption fees charged by Georgia Tan, where California residents were charged less for the first installment while New York residents paid more. Georgia Tan also charged more for travel expenses for adoptive parents from other areas.
ChapterThe History of Adoption in the United States
EpisodePart One: The Woman Who Invented Adoption (By Stealing Thousands of Babies)
PodcastBehind the Bastards
The story of Georgia Tann, who operated the Tennessee Children’s Home Society and stole and sold babies for profit in the 1930s, highlights a dark moment in US history.
52:01 - 54:10 (02:08)
Summary
The story of Georgia Tann, who operated the Tennessee Children’s Home Society and stole and sold babies for profit in the 1930s, highlights a dark moment in US history. She worked through a state agency but was getting paid herself for delivering babies, leading to her increasingly selling babies to out-of-state couples for up to $10,000, which is approximately $140,000 today.