Time & Date
Event Location
American Ancestors New England Historic Genealogical Society Virtual Event Open in Google Maps
The American Inspiration author series by American Ancestors New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) welcomes author Gabrielle Glaser for an illustrated presentation about her book, “American Baby: A Mother, A Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption," followed by a conversation with Here & Now senior editor Peter O'Dowd.
About "American Baby"
During the Baby Boom in 1960s America, women were encouraged to stay home and raise large families, but sex and childbirth were taboo subjects. Premarital sex was common, but birth control was hard to acquire and abortion was illegal. In 1961, sixteen-year-old Margaret Erle fell in love and became pregnant. Her enraged family sent her to a maternity home, and after she gave birth, she was stopped from holding her own son. Social workers threatened her with jail until she signed away her parental rights. Her son vanished, his whereabouts and new identity known only to an adoption agency that would never share the details.
Don’t miss hearing Margaret’s story and Gabrielle Glaser’s account of this dark time in U.S. history.
Event hosted by American Ancestors New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS).