Adoption's Hidden History

Volume 1: Native Americans adopted children and adults into their tribes before pilgrims settled in the New World. Early-day state leaders promoted adoption as a way to cope with an expanding number of orphaned and neglected children, as well as unmarried, pregnant women. Instead of tightening adoption laws to protect children, legislators established amended birth records and sealed the child's original name, date and place of birth. -- Cover, page 4.

Volume 2: The author explains the development of adoption practices as they were shaped by the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Justice Department, U.S. Census Bureau, Social Security, the Children's Bureau and the Council for State Governments. The story is traced from Myra Clark Gaines' court battles to be recognized as her birth father's daughter, through Jean Paton's struggle to open records so that adopted people can learn their personal history.