Babies for Sale: The Tennessee Children's Home Adoption Scandal [Hardcover]

Linda Tollett Austin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275945855 | ISBN-13: 978-0275945855 | Publication Date: June 30, 1993

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

LINDA TOLLETT AUSTIN, an attorney in the state of Tennessee, has a Ph.D. in American History with a specialization in the history of the South.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (June 30, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275945855
• ISBN-13: 978-0275945855
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,562,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Selling babies for profit by goverment and charities, May 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Babies for Sale: The Tennessee Children's Home Adoption Scandal (Hardcover)

Austin is an attorney and historian. This book is a study of adoption in a corrupt political machine run by "boss" Edward Hull Crump in Tennessee. Crump ruled Memphis during a period when cities were run by criminals. In this age, governments were run for the personal profit of the "bosses & their machines."

Among the known activities these city bosses profited from was gambling, prostitution, bootlegging and the sale of favors from public office. Austin's book adds adoption through secret courts to the list of criminal activities.

The director of the Children's Home, Georgia Tann and the judge of the juvenile court, Camille Kelley were appointed and controlled by Crump. Evidence indicated that these people made millions from baby selling in the guise of adoption. The baby selling was exposed in 1950 by the late Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver.

Kefauver was subsequently appointed by the United States Senate to head a national investigation on organized crime. As late as 1964 Kefaufer's committee was making recommendations for changes in adoption law that would eleminate the crimianl element. The changes were never "adopted."

Austin's book is a fascinating look at how government can be run by criminals for their own profit. This book sheds light on the nature of secrecy in government. Secrecy in adoption is all criminals need to profit from a criminal activity.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing effort, January 3, 2003

By 

Brenda Miranda (Hamilton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babies for Sale: The Tennessee Children's Home Adoption Scandal (Hardcover)

This is a story that has great dramatic potential - abused children, deceived parents, abuse of power and political scandal. Unfortunately, the author was unable to put any life into this story. The organization is very poor, with time lines and thematic lines jumbled about. Irrelevant biographical details and interminable discussions of various adoption laws make for annoying interruptions, and when an interesting narrative appears it ends abuptly without discussion of its relevance. With effort, a reader can glean the elements of the story, but it is hard work.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BABIES FOR SALE, January 8, 2000

By 

CLIFF Edwards (UNITED STATES) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babies for Sale: The Tennessee Children's Home Adoption Scandal (Hardcover)

THIS BOOK WAS A EYE OPENER. I WAS A STOLLEN BABIEFROM THE TENN. CHILDRENS HOME AND FOUND THE INFO. IN THE BOOK VERY, VERY, ACC.IT WAS A GREAT HELP TO ME IN GETTING MY SUIT READY TO FILE HOPEFULY IN 2001 AGENSIT THE STATE OF TENN.