Episode 41: Stealing Babies
Stealing Babies
Georgia Tann.
Photo credit: Unsplash, Ilse Orsel @lgtts
For close to thirty years, Georgia Tann helped families adopt babies. But the truth was much darker. As the person in charge of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society in Memphis, Tennessee, Georgia used her position to adopt out children to families outside of Tennessee. In doing so, she was able to “sell” the babies and line her pockets. Due to demand, she often stole babies from poor and struggling families.
Adoptee rights advocate, Julie Dixon Jackson, from the podcast Cut Off Genes, joins us as we discuss the horrific deeds of Ms. Tann. Then we begin exploring her family tree starting with her father, a judge in charge of adoptions. We’ll be back in two weeks with Part 2.
Georgia Tann
Georgia Tann’s Death Certificate. She died before she could ever face trial for her crimes.
Ann Attwood, Georgia’s partner for many years.
This profile of Georgia Tann appeared in the paper 11 years before prosecutors would be poised to press charges against Georgia.
Source: The Commercial Appeal, 29 Sep 1939
Just one of many children advertised in the newspaper.
Source: The Memphis Press-Scimitar, 1 Aug 1946
Georgia wasn’t the first to advertise children in the papers for adoption. This add appeared before Georgia began her work in Memphis.
Source: The Memphis News-Scimitar, 23 Nov 1920
The Tennessee Children’s Home Society in Memphis was located at 1556 Poplar Avenue. It was torn down years ago.
A photo of the interior of the Tennessee Children’s Home taken in November 1949.
Photo courtesy of the Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Libraries
The grave for all the babies who died at the Tennessee Children’s Home Society in Memphis under Georgia Tann’s watch. The grave is located at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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Recommended Reading
The Baby Thief: The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption by Barbara Bisantz Raymond
Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate
SOURCES
A Story of Stolen Babies, Newton County, Mississippi Historical and Genealogical Society
Georgia Tann: The Mastermind of a Black Market Baby Ring That Lasted for Three Decades by Robyn Kagan Harrington
Investigation of the Tennessee Children’s Home
The Hollywood Baby Snatcher: The sinister story of the woman who stole children and sold them to the stars by Zoe Brennan
Wikipedia
We use a multitude of resources when researching a family tree up to an including census records from 1800-1940, marriage records in various states, draft registration cards, newspaper articles, and more. If you would like more specific details on where information was obtained, please email us and we’ll respond in a timely manner.