Summary of Barbara Bisantz Raymond's The Baby Thief

Get the Summary of Barbara Bisantz Raymond's The Baby Thief in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book. "The Baby Thief" by Barbara Bisantz Raymond explores the dark history of Georgia Tann's adoption practices in Memphis. Tann, who ran the Tennessee Children's Home Society, was known for dressing children in fine clothes to make them more adoptable and was involved in the illegal sale of babies with the complicity of prominent Tennesseans. Her operation went unchallenged for 26 years until exposed as a baby seller. Tann's actions had lasting effects on the adoption institution and the lives of those affected, including siblings separated and sold to different families, and children who suffered from being taken from their birth parents. The book recounts the stories of adoptees like Peggy and Elizabeth Huber, who faced identity crises, and Barbara Davidson, who suffered sexual abuse. Raymond's research uncovers the far-reaching impact of Tann, with adoptees and their relatives across the United States searching for answers. The book also delves into the history of child care and the evolution of adoption practices, highlighting the societal shift towards secrecy in adoptions influenced by Tann's legacy. Raymond's personal connection to adoption as an adoptive parent herself adds depth to her investigation into Tann's corrupt practices and the ongoing battle for adoptees' rights to their identities.