A Safe Haven
Posted by Megan on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 · 17 Comments
By the 1950's, there were 34 Salvation Army Booth Homes for Unwed Mothers in operation.
The issue of teen pregnancy has long been a challenge in society, taking an emotional and physical toll on those involved. It was particularly so in the early part of the 20th century when there was a significant social stigma attached to being an unwed mother. Here’s how one newspaper reacted when The Salvation Army proposed opening a facility for unwed mothers in Richmond, VA in 1923:
“A home of this kind would be a menace to society, encouraging viciousness and immortality . . . [serving those] who have for any reason become misfits in the social structure of life, thereby disqualifying them for entrance into other places.”
Imagine the pressure a young girl would have felt under those conditions. Today, women from across the country recall specifically how they were welcomed into those homes and were thankful to have a place to go where they could get the care they and their babies needed.
A client from Oakland, CA in the 1960s recalled recently: “Even though so many years have passed, I still remember that everyone was very kind. I was 17 and frightened. My parents felt strongly that adoption was best for my future and for the child’s. The social worker at Santa Clara County recommended I be away from home and with women in my situation. I was at the Booth Home for the last two months of my pregnancy only. I came away feeling everyone was kind and supportive and not judging. I also received good medical care. I came home feeling a sense of loss, but it was comforting to know that I’d had kind, supportive people around me at the Booth Home who didn’t judge me.”
Major Dorothy Purser of the Booth Memorial Hospital in Cleveland, OH gives the infant to the new mother.
The Booth Memorial Home in El Paso, TX
Over time, societal attitudes have changed dramatically and so have needs. In the 1950s there were 34 Booth homes for unwed mothers in operation. They were typically named after Evangeline Booth, the first female General of the organization. They were run under the guidance of a Salvation Army officer and approved medical staff including obstetricians and pediatricians. The median age of a Booth Home resident was 18, with some as young as 14.
In many cases, the women ultimately gave their newborn babies up for adoption, often on the advice of their families. The adoptions themselves were handled by professional adoption agencies and/or public social welfare agencies – the Army’s role was to provide a safe, confidential place for the mothers to live during their pregnancy. In the 1970s, The Salvation Army began to close or transition all of its homes and hospitals that were solely dedicated to unwed mothers. Instead, the Army focused on addressing the broader needs of single parents through family counseling programs, day care services, transitional housing and other support.
While our services continue to evolve, we still are working to meet the needs of those who once stayed with us. Today, we run a program to reunite mothers and children by sharing available medical and other records. Here’s how our client from El Paso recalls a recent, successful reunion:
“The decision for adoption was made by my mom. I was older and stable when I had my other children. But if I’d have kept that child, we would have been at the mercy of food stamps and welfare. My delivery was early, so the adoption was through Social Services only. But in only three months, my child was placed with a very good family. Knowing this has been like a weight lifted off my shoulders. It took me three tries to find him, but the last time I contacted [The Salvation Army], worked. Whenever we see The Salvation Army at Christmas, we drop in our change.”
For a historic look back at The Salvation Army’s homes for pregnant women, take a look at The Salvation Army: Marching Forward at the 7:50 mark.
does anyone have any information on the home in durham, n. c.
Jane- are you referring to a past home for unwed mothers? I’m not familiar since these homes have closed down, but for services currently offered, please visit: http://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/commands/durham
Let me know what I can help you with.
I have been trying for years to get additional information about my birth parents. I have the legal documents – copies my adopted parents had and some notes from their lawyer, a wonderful family friend. My adopted parents and their lawyer have now passed away. The Salvation Army in Ga built a stonewall at my first contact with them – probably 20 years ago. Later, the woman I spoke to said the records had been destroyed. I’m going to turn 70 in February and it seems to me that there is no longer a reason to withhold this information.
Looking for the address of the Evangeline Home for Unwed Mothers in Lowell, Michigan. My wife was born there. Her mother did eventually marry her father.
Rollin – I would suggest reaching out to The Salvation Army in Lowell, MI directly with this question as they would have the records. You can find this contact info by entering your zip code on our website: http://www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Thank you!
My mother placed a child through the Salvation Home in Durham North Carolina, been searching for over 30 years for my sister. If anyone has insight on finding this information out, it would be greatly appreciated. Please not pay for hire services. I know the home has now been closed, I did reach out many years ago through social services, but to no avail they did not help. Our mother sent a letter releasing her information, just in case the my sister wanted to reach out.
Thanks!!!
I am looking for a child my mother had in the late 1940′s or 1950′s. She either was a surrogate mother or gave the baby
away for adoption. My dad said she was a surrogate for a friend of hers. This was before she married my dad. My
mother’s name was Joyce and I’ve just heard bits and pieces, but I believe she was staying at a Salvation Army home for
unwed mothers in New York. My mother was born in May 1933 and I know she was young when she had this child. If any
info, please email me at mtthw3@earthlink.net
Thanks!!
My mother gave birth to me at Salvation Army booth memorial in Chicago. Do u know where I can find her records?
Looking for birth parents El Paso Tx 03/29/1970
Does anyone know where I can get a picture of the Salvation Army Booth Memorial Home in Honolulu, Hawaii?
My sister was a resident at Booth Home for Unwed Mothers in Oakland, CA and gave birth to a baby girl on Feb. 15, 1969. I would love to bring my sister and her daughter together. I don’t know where to start looking. Can anyone help us.
Hello,
I am the 1/2 sibling of a male child born in either Texas or New Mexico at a Booth Memorial Home in October 1967 or 1968. The information I have is sparse. The birth parents are both from Utah. Mother’s first name is Karen. I’ve been looking on and off for over 13 years. Any help is appreciated.
Trying to help my Dad find his family and birth records, He was born in a Booth maternity home for unwed mothers in Boston in 1934. He was adopted by family members and lived in New Hampshire. No one is alive that can help us with search. Just trying to help him have peace of mind. Also, there are myself and my four siblings who would love to connect with our Dad’s family. His mother’s name was Elma Curry, he believes his birth name was Richard Frederick Curry and my grandparents chnaged it when he was adopted to Richard Walter Smith. Any suggestions on where to search for birth records would be great!
Are there volunteer opportunities for the teens from church (Twin Rivers Community Church)?
I was born on 5/5/64 at Booth Memorial Hospital in Queens, NY. My given name at birth was Margaret Bell. I am looking for any information on bio family.
I can be contacted at princesbaynative@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Phyllis
I not only was a teen mom, but I am a former employee of the Salvation Army and I know first hand how wonderful their programs are. I am not a co author of the book “Confessions of a Welfare Mom” which is a collaboration of success stories of women who worked themselves off the welfare system and through touch life situations. I would like to go to this home and speak to these young women and help to encourage them.
looking for my brother my mom is in her 80′s and has alzheimers we recently learned she has a son born in about 1952 in seattle or in the washington area somehwere she was from ketchikan alaska we would love to find our brother or anyone who new a kathlyn ,katie or kay who had a baby in washinton in 52-or 53 in a home somwhere a bus ride away from seattle?