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History of Adoption Practices in the United States
While the practice of adoption has been around for millennia, the recent history of adoption in the United States can be tracked to the 1850s, with the passage of the first "modern" adoption law in Massachusetts that recognized adoption as a social and legal process based on child welfare rather than adult interests. The 1850s also began the era of the orphan trains that relocated children from New York to live with families throughout the United States and Canada. In this section, find information on the history of adoption practice in the United States, including major Federal legislation dating back to 1974.
The Adoption History Project
University of Oregon
Provides a history of adoption practice in the United States.
Children's Bureau Historical Publications
The Maternal & Child Health Library at Georgetown University
Presents a digitized collection of U.S. Children's Bureau publications from 1912 to 1969.
Flying the Coop: ICWA and the Welfare of Indian Children
Stark & Stark (2006)
In Outsiders Within: Writing on Transracial Adoption
View Abstract
Traces the history of child welfare policy relating to American Indians, including the removal of children from their homes beginning in the 1880s and the Indian Adoption Project in the 1950s. The book also discusses passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), procedural elements of ICWA, and efforts by Tribes to reclaim and reassert jurisdiction over American Indian child welfare.
For the Records II: An Examination of the History and Impact of Adult Adopted Person Access to Original Birth Certificates
Howard, Smith, & Deoudes (2010)
Examines the most current evidence related to restoring adult adopted person access to original birth certificates.
Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption | |
Series Title: | Factsheets |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 544KB) |
Year Published: | 2012 - 23 pages |
Summarizes the major provisions of key Federal laws regarding child protection, child welfare, and adoption. Includes a timeline of Federal child welfare legislation. |
Orphan Train History
National Orphan Train Complex
Explores the period between 1854 and 1929, during which an estimated 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children from New York City were placed on trains and relocated to families in 47 States and Canada. This period of mass relocation of children is now recognized as the beginning of documented foster care in the United States.