Pod Insights American Scandal The Woman Who Sold Babies | Supply and Demand | 2 About this episode Georgia Tann tightens her grip on adoption in the city of Memphis, with the help of a growing network of accomplices.
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0:00 Lindsay Graham? Audible subscribers can binge new seasons of American Scandal early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. A listener note: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse and is not suitable for all audiences. To protect their privacy, we have changed the names of all children involved in this story.
0:37 Lindsay Graham? It's spring 1928 at the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Orphanage in Memphis, Tennessee. Standing on the porch of the two-story brick building, a young nun clutches a small bell in her hands, her eyes fixed on the street in front. A few minutes ago, a phone call came in from a clerk at the nearby juvenile court. He informed the orphanage's mother superior that Judge Camille Kelly was on her way. Judge Kelly is a frequent visitor to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, but she's not an entirely welcome one. Every time she comes, she insists on viewing the children. And then, soon after, an official from the Tennessee Children's Home Society arrives with paperwork in hand and takes some of the children away. It's unsettling.
1:20 Lindsay Graham? There's no reason for the children to be moved to another home, and the sisters are increasingly suspicious about what happens to them afterwards. So today, while this young nun keeps watch, her colleagues are busy in the orphanage behind her, hiding as many of the children as they can. But they run out of time as a familiar car glides around the corner. The young nun darts back toward the house, the bell in her hand already ringing.
1:49 Lindsay Graham? The orphanage's mother superior strides into the hall as the young nun comes inside. All right. Thank you, Sister Agnes. To your post now. The younger nun nods her head and hurries upstairs. The mother superior smoothes the front of her habit and surveys the pristine hallway. Everything is as it should be. Ah, Your Honor. Welcome. Mother Superior, so lovely to see you again. Forty-eight-year-old Judge Camille Kelly sweeps into the orphanage. Her long dress brushes the floorboards and the pearls at her throat clack softly as she moves. Now, I won't take up too much of your time, but I couldn't possibly pass by without seeing the little ones. Judge Kelly looks over the mother superior's shoulder towards the infant's nursery. The nun shifts subtly blocking her view.
2:34 Lindsay Graham? I'm afraid our youngest children are all asleep, Your Honor. I would hate for you to wake them. Oh, I can creep around a nursery? I've raised three children of my own. Please, do lead the way. I shall be very quiet. The mother superior gives a thin smile. Well, of course. She leads Kelly down a hallway and into an airy room lined with bassinets. Soft light spills through the high windows catching on white sheets and tiny sleeping infants. Judge Kelly's smile broadens as she steps inside, but after a moment, her expression falters. Oh, it seems your numbers have dwindled since my last visit. The mother superior can't tell the judge that she's hiding children, but she also doesn't want to tell an outright lie. It is a blessing when children find loving families.
3:19 Lindsay Graham? Oh, indeed, indeed. Kelly moves slowly between the bassinets, trailing a gloved hand along the cribs, pausing now and then to inspect an individual child. Finally, she stops before a sturdy boy of about six months old, a pacifier in his mouth. Well, would you look at this fine fellow? Judge Kelly bends to read the small card at the foot of his bed. Peter, oh, how darling. Mother Superior steps forward. A frail child sadly, Your Honor. This handsome boy? Yes, he had a bad cough all winter. We feared we might lose him. But the Lord answered your prayers, I see. The doctor has said we still must be cautious on account of his lungs. Even a small change in his environment could be dangerous, I'm told. Oh, babies are heartier than that.
4:03 Lindsay Graham? He's thriving, look at him. The judge reaches down and strokes Peter's cheek. Just think how happy he's gonna make someone. Suddenly, the judge pulls the pacifier from Peter's mouth. Your Honor, please, he'll wake the others. With a satisfied smile, Judge Kelly replaces the pacifier and little baby Peter settles back down. I don't know, those lungs seem to be in good health to me. Thank you for your hospitality, Mother Superior, as always. Well, it's our pleasure, Your Honor. We do enjoy your visits. I just hope there will be more little ones for me to see next time. It would be so unfortunate if people thought this home no longer served its purpose, wouldn't it? Turning abruptly, Kelly strides from the room and disappears down the hall.
4:46 Lindsay Graham? The Mother Superior listens to the firm click of her heels, the creak of the front door, and the hush that follows. Only then does she turn back to baby Peter. She knows that someone from the Tennessee Children's Home Society will soon come with an order signed by Judge Kelly to take him away. But the Mother Superior doesn't know what will happen to Peter after that. She hopes he'll find a loving family, but fears he won't.
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6:22 Lindsay Graham? From Wondery, I'm Lindsay Graham, and this is American Scandal.
6:47 Lindsay Graham? By the summer of 1928, Georgia Tan had been in Memphis for four years. She had initially been employed as a fundraiser for the Tennessee Children's Home Society, but had quickly decided that was not enough for her. So she cultivated connections with local power brokers like Judge Camille Kelly and Edward Boss Crump, and used them to seize total control over the Memphis branch of the charity. Tan didn't just want to help children who had lost their parents or been abandoned by them. Instead, she was convinced that America would be better off if the poor and undereducated gave up their children to richer families. Having taken charge of the TCHS in Memphis, she could put those beliefs into practice. But Tan could not do it alone.
7:30 Lindsay Graham? Back home in Hickory, Mississippi, she had taken two children from an impoverished widow and placed them in new homes with the help and protection of her judge father. Now that Tan was in a different city, in a different state, she would need a new network of accomplices. This is episode two, Supply and Demand.
7:51 Lindsay Graham? It's a Sunday morning in late November 1929, on a suburban street in Memphis, Tennessee. Forty-four-year-old Aubrey Clapp unloads wooden crates full of milk bottles from the back of a truck. The sound of clinking glass echoes down the quiet street as Clapp carefully stacks the crates underneath a folding table he's positioned on the sidewalk. Once everything is in place, Clapp then hangs up a sign that reads "Free Milk." Then he waits. This is Clapp's second week running this stand, and he knows it won't take long, because once word gets out that he's here, people will rush over to get their hands on free milk. Memphis residents generally aren't wealthy anyway, but ever since the stock market took a turn in October, it seems like everyone in the city is worrying about money.
8:37 Lindsay Graham? And sure enough, it's not even eight o'clock in the morning when people start approaching Clap. He's only too happy to hand them a bottle of milk, but first, he takes down their information in a ledger. He notes their name, address, occupation, and the ages of any children they have. No one seems to think twice about giving up their personal details in exchange for free milk, and Clap doesn't either. He's just following the instructions he's received from Georgia Tan of the Tennessee Children's Home Society. She's the one who asked out to find out about people's children in particular. And when Clap is done for the day, he'll file away his notes to deliver to Tan later in the week. Whether he knows it or not, Clap is one of Tan's most useful early accomplices in Memphis.
9:20 Lindsay Graham? The information he collects helps her to identify children in need of her unique brand of help. But by 1929, Tan has no shortage of struggling families to choose from. October's stock market crash has unleashed a wave of economic devastation that's sweeping across America. The steep rise in unemployment at the beginning of what will be called the Great Depression leaves many families in Tennessee struggling to make ends meet. Desperate to put food on the table, increasing numbers of parents turn to charities for aid, and some even place their children in the temporary care of orphanages. But seeking help only exposes these families to a different threat. Tan has built a small army of spotters at
10:01 Lindsay Graham? local charities and orphanages. It's not just men like Aubrey Clap. It's nurses, doctors, and social workers too. They all know who to call when they come across a vulnerable child because Tan seems to have a gift for finding these children new homes. But of all Tan's allies, Judge Camille Kelly is the one who's most important. Kelly has overseen the juvenile court in Memphis since 1920. She had no legal experience before being elected as a judge, but she insists what she lacks in formal training she makes up for in motherly instinct. She doesn't wear a judge's robe, and instead prefers long silk dresses and fur coats, and her courtroom is always filled with a large display of
10:43 Lindsay Graham? flowers. She says it's meant to reassure the children she deals with and make the legal system seem less intimidating, but in fact, it's more like a disguise. In private, Kelly shares Tan's belief that poor and uneducated parents have no business raising families. So she's happy to sign all the paperwork necessary to terminate their parental custody and transfer their children to the care of the TCHS. And with spotters spread across Memphis and a sympathetic judge at the local juvenile court, Tan has created a machine for seizing vulnerable children from their parents and granting herself power over their futures. But if anything, her methods are proving too effective. Soon, the 38-year-old Tan is responsible for more children than even she can manage.
11:28 Lindsay Graham? And with the boarding houses and orphanages she uses beginning to fill, it's a problem she has to solve, fast.
11:39 Lindsay Graham? It's a little over a week before Christmas 1929, in Georgia Tan's dimly lit office in downtown Memphis. The crowded room is dominated by a heavy oak desk piled high with stacks of papers, adoption records, letters, and legal documents, all meticulously filed. Seated across from Tan, 23-year-old Ada Gilkey listens intently, her notebook resting on her lap. As one of the few female journalists at the Memphis Press Cimatar, she's used to being overlooked in the newsroom and is often dismissed as the "little girl reporter." But Tan has always taken an interest in her career, and the two have become friends.
12:19 Lindsay Graham? Well, I've asked you in, Ada, because, well, I wanted to talk with you and not one of your male colleagues. This is about children, and, to be honest, we both know women understand these things better than men. Well, of course, what can I help you with? Well, it's your readers' help I really need. The TCH cares for the most vulnerable children in society, but we're running out of places to put them. Memphis orphanages are full to bursting, and the local boarding homes we partner with are starting to turn us away. Oh, that's awful, Georgia, and so close to Christmas. That's exactly it. Of course, we'd like to make the season special for the children, but I just don't see how we can under these circumstances. I'm sure you can imagine just how expensive it is to house, feed, clothe, and educate so many. So the society is in need of donations?
13:04 Lindsay Graham? Well, yes, and I was hoping I could persuade you to write a little article about us, encouraging your readers to "open their hearts and wallets for a good cause." The more support we receive, the more children we can help. And just look at these sweet faces. Tan reaches into a drawer and pulls out a file of photographs. She hands it to Gilkey, who flips through the black and white images of plump-cheeked babies and wide-eyed toddlers. Oh, they are darling. I just think they deserve a happy Christmas as much as any other child. Well, you know, what would you say to having these pictures in the paper? My editor is always looking for feel-good stories this time of year, and I'm sure it would encourage donations to see exactly who would be benefiting. Maybe it'd even inspire a local couple to consider adoption. Well, that would be wonderful.
13:49 Lindsay Graham? Obviously, it wouldn't be the child in the photo that they'd adopt, but we could put a face on the idea, you know? Well, why couldn't it be the child in the picture? These little ones are all available for adoption. Well, I suppose so. If someone's drawn to a particular face, they could call you directly. But what if we made it a feature? We could showcase an especially attractive child. It could be like a sweepstakes, only instead of a Christmas ham, your readers could win a beautiful child. Oh, that's brilliant. I think our readers would love that, and I bet my editor will, too. That afternoon, Gilkey writes up an article announcing that the Tennessee Children's Home Society will give away 25 children to lucky local families on Christmas Eve.
14:32 Lindsay Graham? The story is published the next day under the headline, "Want a Real Live Christmas Present?" Interested parties are instructed to write to the Press Cemeterie Adoption Editor with their details. But some people aren't patient enough for that, and the paper's newsroom is soon inundated with telephone calls from would-be parents. Realizing that the story has captured his readers' attention, Gilkey's editor decides to ramp up the coverage. The very next day, the Press Cemeterie publishes a photograph of a different child, calling her a "living doll" and urging people to put their order in early. Similar articles continue over the following week, and each day, the list of hopeful new parents grows. By December 25th, all the children in the giveaway are spoken for.
15:17 Lindsay Graham? As far as Tan is concerned, it's a Christmas miracle.
15:24 Lindsay Graham? Thanks to the success of the baby giveaway, Tan enters 1930 with a long list of people who are apparently eager to adopt a child. But as Tan tries to match them with the children in her care, it soon becomes clear that many of these hopeful parents aren't just interested in any child. They have requirements. Newborns are the most popular, of course, and girls are generally preferred to boys. But some people don't stop there. Some even specify certain hair colors or facial features. Tan wants to encourage interest in adoption, especially from the better off, so she tries her best to meet these requests. She starts spending long days at local orphanages and boarding homes, scouting and photographing children to present to these choosy prospective parents.
16:09 Lindsay Graham? And she's not above lying to make some of them seem more attractive either. The orphans are often described as the products of debutante mothers and pre-med fathers who just aren't ready to become parents. The children become Jewish for Jewish parents or Catholic for Catholic parents, and Tan falsifies or alters birth records to make the children appear weeks, months, or even years younger than they are. But despite all her efforts, Tan soon sees that she can't meet the growing demand for perfect little babies with the children who are already in the system. If she's going to satisfy her new customers' demand, Tan will need to resort to more extreme tactics.
16:51 Lindsay Graham? It's spring 1930, at a small farmhouse just outside Memphis. A young woman named Francie has just put her baby down for a nap and has come into the kitchen to put the kettle on the stove when a movement outside the window catches her eye. She pulls back the fraying curtain to see two cars pull up beside the house. The doors open, and a group of people step out onto the lawn: two men in shirt sleeves, two women in simple dresses, and a fifth figure who is clearly in charge. Broad-shouldered and dressed in pants, this woman barely needs to speak a word before the others fall into formation around her. Unease settles in Francie's stomach. She calls out to her older kids to quiet down as she moves through the house to the front door.
17:35 Lindsay Graham? Then she steps out onto the porch, squinting against the morning sun, and asks the group how she can help. They all turn at once, their eyes settling on her. The woman wearing pants says something in a low voice to one of her companions, and then dismisses them with a flick of her wrist. They split off, heading around the side of the house, as the woman strides forward and introduces herself as Georgia Tan. She tells Francie that she's from the Tennessee Children's Home Society, and she's come to take away Francie's children. Francie blinks, because none of that makes sense. But Tan is insistent, and seems to know all about Francie's family: how many children she has, how old the baby is, how tight their finances are with her husband out of state and looking for work.
18:18 Lindsay Graham? From inside, the kettle begins to whistle, and the shrill sound rattles Francie's nerves. She steps back inside, telling Tan that she can leave, because her children are going nowhere. But as she reaches the stove, she hears a creak of floorboards behind her. Turning, she sees Tan standing in her kitchen, uninvited. Tan pulls a paper from her purse and thrusts it forward. Francie takes it reluctantly. It's an order, signed by someone named Judge Camille Kelly. Tan then tells Francie that because she provides such a poor home environment for her three children, the judge has authorized the TCHS to remove them for their own safety. Suddenly, a loud scuffle erupts from the back of the house, crashing footsteps and panicked
19:00 Lindsay Graham? little cries, the unmistakable sound of her children screaming. Francie rushes toward the hallway, but Tan blocks her path. Since she hasn't surrendered them willingly, Tan says her associates are taking the children by force, and Francie's pulse begins to pound in her ears. She barely hears what Tan is saying, as through the open doorway, she catches a glimpse of her children being carried out the back door, their tiny limbs flailing, and their faces red with terror. Francie lunges forward, but Tan doesn't move. Francie can only watch helplessly as her children are bundled into the backseat of a car. Tan then tilts her head, watching Francie with curious detachment. Then, just before turning to leave, she offers Francie a cold smile and tells her to stop crying.
19:45 Lindsay Graham? "This is all for the good of the children, and if she were a better mother, she'd understand that."
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21:06 Lindsay Graham? After 1929, the Memphis Press Sematary's Christmas Baby Giveaway becomes an annual event. Soon, other newspapers pick up the story and readers across the South are moved by tales of needy children looking for new families over the holidays. But the Christmas campaign doesn't just promote the work of the Tennessee Children's Home Society. It also makes the executive secretary of the society's Memphis branch an increasingly prominent figure. Georgia Tann enjoys all the press attention and is eager to capitalize on her rising profile. She writes articles about her work for popular newspapers and magazines, and she's invited often to address women's social clubs and charities as well. In every article, interview, or speech, Tan champions adoption.
21:51 Lindsay Graham? She knows that public opinion in America remains divided on this subject. Orphanages take in the most children of poor or unmarried mothers. And many people still believe it's impossible for these children to escape the circumstances of their birth. In their eyes, adoption may change a child's name, but it can't change who they are. Tan, though, has dedicated herself to defeating that mindset. Again and again, she tells audiences that adopted children are blank slates who can grow into anything their new parents want them to be. But Tan doesn't just argue that adoption can benefit the individual child, or even the family that welcomes them in. Instead, she insists that by reducing the burden on the American taxpayer and shaping
22:32 Lindsay Graham? a new generation of upstanding citizens, adoption can be good for wider society as well. But whether or not she's convincing in her arguments, one thing is certain: adoption is proving very good news for Tan herself. With every child she places, her reputation grows. So she's always on the lookout for more children, especially the youngest, who are most desired by prospective parents. She already has spotters keeping watch in the hospitals and orphanages around Memphis. But as the 1930s unfold and her power in Tennessee grows, Tan finds a promising new source of young children.
23:11 Lindsay Graham? It's early summer 1932. Georgia Tan is in a doctor's office about an hour outside of Memphis. It's not her own personal physician. She sees someone far more expensive, in the city. And to Tan, it seems there's a slight scent of desperation in the air of this shabby office. But for her purposes, that's ideal.
23:34 Lindsay Graham? Tan looks up as a young woman is guided into the room. She clasps her hands tightly in front of her. The doctor nods to Tan, and then quietly shuts the door. Tan watches the young woman for a moment, then rises, smoothing her skirt. "Delilah, isn't it?" Delilah doesn't answer. She stares past Tan and out the window. She's pale and damp with sweat. Tan knows that look well. "I understand the doctor's just given you some news." Delilah manages a small nod. "How old are you, dear, if you don't mind me asking?" "Eighteen." "Oh, you're just a baby yourself. And I don't see a ring on your finger." Is the father in the picture? No, he's not from around here. I see.
24:18 Lindsay Graham? People are gonna talk, you know. I know. I don't know what I'm gonna do. I can't tell my parents. Well, don't worry. I can help. Have you heard of the Tennessee Children's Home Society? No. Well, one of the things we do at the TCHS is look after young women in situations like yours. If you wanted, we could arrange for you to stay at a private home for your entire pregnancy. No prying eyes, no whispered comments, just rest, peace, and time to think. Oh, I don't think I could afford. Oh, dear. There's no cost involved. The society takes care of everything. All you need to do is focus on yourself and, of course, what's best for your child. I should tell you that most young girls in your position do decide on adoption.
25:01 Lindsay Graham? They want their babies to have the best chance possible in life, a real home with a mother and a father, but it is entirely up to you. I'm not ready to have a baby. Well, of course you're not, my dear, and that's perfectly all right. How does this work? Would I have to leave today? Well, how far along are you? I'd expect you'd like to be out of sight before you start to show. The doctor said fourteen weeks. Well, in that case, we should arrange for you to be brought to Memphis in the next week or so before people start asking questions. I think that would be best for everyone, don't you? Tan reaches into her purse, pulling out a crisp document and a pen. Why don't we go ahead and get a few details down, and then we'll make final arrangements when you're ready.
25:45 Lindsay Graham? Tan feels a warm glow of satisfaction as Delilah takes the pen and begins scrawling her name. This isn't the first young woman she's talked into staying at one of her boarding homes, and she'll be far from the last. In 1930s America, the social stigma of having children outside wedlock remains so strong that many families still hide away their fallen women for the duration of the pregnancy. There are several maternity homes in and around Memphis catering to this need, but many young women in the city dread them. The homes are mostly run by religious orders. They don't charge guests for their stays, but the borders still pay a price. The pregnant women are made to do chores and denied any contact with the outside world.
26:30 Lindsay Graham? They're required to attend religious classes to steer them away from their sinful choices. And when labor finally does come, they are sometimes tied down and denied painkillers, as if the agonies of childbirth are some form of punishment for what they've done. Georgia Tan has no love for these single mothers, especially the poor ones. In private, she calls them "cows" and mocks them for getting pregnant too easily. But the stigma of being an unmarried mother and the terrifying reputation of maternity homes in Memphis presents Tan with an opportunity she doesn't want to miss. So through the TCHS, Tan recruits locals to house pregnant women. She pays them forty dollars a month per border. Then she places ads in Tennessee newspapers urging young women in trouble to call her.
27:15 Lindsay Graham? Tan's private maternity homes have none of the harsh restrictions found in the religious institutions. Tan tells her expectant mothers that they'll be given a safe and dignified place to live. They'll receive nutritious food and free medical care throughout their pregnancies. And then, once their baby is born, the women will be given all the time and space they need to decide what to do next, whether that means raising the child themselves or giving it up for adoption. But while Tan portrays the TCH homes as safe havens for these women, that's far from reality. The truth is that once a woman agrees to stay at one of the private maternity homes, she has placed herself and her child at Tan's mercy. From the moment the women step through the door, there will be subtle but persistent
27:58 Lindsay Graham? pressure to give up their babies for adoption. Most relent and sign the papers before even giving birth. But some women are more stubborn and still seem committed to keeping their children even as their due date nears. It's at this point that Tan takes the choice away from them. The mothers are given anesthesia as they go into labor. And when the children are born, Tan then forces the women to sign papers surrendering their newborns while they're still under the influence of painkillers. But sometimes, Tan resorts to even more devious methods.
28:33 Lindsay Graham? It's the early 1930s, in a Memphis hospital room, and just hours ago, Irene Green gave birth to a baby girl. Now Green is stirring, coming to as the drugs slowly wear off. She can hear the noise of the busy maternity ward just beyond the door of her room, and she can see beneath the curtain around her bed, the feet of doctors and nurses. But Green can't see or hear her baby, and she begins to panic. Green has already lost three of her children. Her eldest contracted tuberculosis, and was sent away to a sanatorium. After that, social workers appeared on Green's doorstep with paperwork authorizing them to take away her other two children as well. So now, from her hospital bed, Green calls out desperately to see her baby right away.
29:17 Lindsay Graham? A few seconds later, a nurse in a starched white uniform pulls back the curtain, with a tilt to her head and a sad expression sliding onto her face. The nurse reaches out to take Green's hand, and tells her that the infant was stillborn. For a moment, Green feels that the world has fallen away beneath her, but then she catches herself and takes a breath. Her baby was alive. Even through the haze of anesthetics, she heard the cries. So Green pulls away from the nurse's gentle hand, and tells her she was wrong. But the nurse simply says that Green is mistaken. Perhaps she heard another baby on the ward. Or maybe she was simply dreaming while the drugs were wearing off. The nurse seems so certain, and so authoritative, that Green begins to doubt what she remembers.
30:01 Lindsay Graham? Swimming through an unexpected grief, Green asks to see the baby, to hold her just once to be able to say goodbye. But the nurse tells her that won't be possible. The body has already been disposed of. Green's anguished cries echo throughout the hospital. She'll never know that her daughter was stolen from her, that she was taken to the Tennessee Children's Home Society, and given away to someone else. For the rest of her life, she'll be haunted by the loss of a daughter, all because Georgia Tan decided she wasn't fit to be a mother.
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32:46 Lindsay Graham? Less than a decade after arriving in Memphis, Georgia Tan has become one of the most powerful women in the city. She has spotters in every orphanage and hospital, as well as her own network of private maternity homes. And with her allies at City Hall and in the court system, no one seems able to stop Tan from doing whatever she wants. If a complaint is made about her to the police, it gets brushed off. And if anyone goes directly to the Tennessee Children's Home Society with a grievance, Tan only has to remind them of her friendship with the powerful politician Edward "Boss" Crump, and all trouble seems to melt away. But as her influence in Memphis grows, so too do Tan's ambitions. Her ultimate dream is to establish and lead a national agency,
33:29 Lindsay Graham? with branches in every state where she would be responsible for all adoptions in America. In pursuit of this goal, she travels the country, giving speeches to other social workers and politicians. She preaches the transformative power of adoption, how it can change lives and improve society. She boasts that she's already saved Memphis taxpayers thousands of dollars by moving children from expensive institutions into loving new homes. And she insists that she can disprove the old notion that adopted children inherit the worst traits of their birth parents. On the contrary, she claims that the average child adopted out by the TCHS does better in life than the average child raised by its birth parents. Tan's argument is that single mothers or the poor
34:12 Lindsay Graham? who fail to put their children up for adoption are being selfish. They are robbing the next generation of a better life. These children could have more, do more, and be more if they were only given the chance. It's an argument that strikes a chord with Tan's audience, and it is soon repeated by social workers across America. They start urging single mothers and the poor to give their children up for adoption, insisting it's the only way for them to have a decent life. Still, even as Tan becomes the most prominent advocate of adoption in the country, she ensures that she doesn't neglect her power base in Memphis. She maintains her tight grip on the TCHS, and she's always on the lookout for new allies and accomplices.
34:57 Lindsay Graham? It's the winter of 1932 at Memphis Baptist Memorial Hospital. Georgia Tan climbs out of a cab, turning her back to the biting December wind. In her arms is a bassinet. She doesn't want the sleeping baby inside to be exposed to the cold, so she makes for the hospital door as fast as she can. Less than an hour ago, Tan received a call from the head of the Memphis delegation to the Tennessee State Legislature. The man was frantic. His daughter had just delivered a stillborn baby, and he was insistent that Tan bring him a replacement. Lucky for the legislator, the TCHS had a newborn in its care, and Tan promised to bring the child to the maternity ward right away.
35:41 Lindsay Graham? Tan strides past the windows of the nursery and its rows of swaddled infants, and continues down the hallway toward a waiting room. A man in his early 50s perches on the edge of a stiff-backed chair, pulling relentlessly at the cuffs of his suit, when he sees Tan approach, he straightens up. Ms. Tan? Yes, sir. The legislator's eyes shift immediately to the bassinet in Tan's arms. And is that... Your grandson, sir. The delegate takes a closer look at the sleeping child, and his eyes fill with tears. Oh, my goodness. You have no idea. How is your daughter, sir? Ah, she's in recovery. It was awful. She has no idea about any of this, of course. Well, you're sparing her a great deal of pain, sir. I hope that's what I'm doing.
36:24 Lindsay Graham? And you're giving this boy a wonderful new life. Who were the parents? Oh, it doesn't matter. He'll have a loving family from this moment on, and that's what's important. Tan tries to hand him the bassinet, but the man steps back. No, no, I have to know if this child is suitable for my family. Tan stifles a sigh. She's been on her feet for too long today, and her patience is wearing thin. But this man is important, and may be useful to her in the future, so she forces a reassuring smile. Well, of course, I understand your concern, but this child comes from excellent stock. The mother was a high school cheerleader, a bright girl, just young. The father is already at university on a football scholarship, and neither of them was ready to raise a child, so here we are.
37:07 Lindsay Graham? The representative studies the baby, his expression unreadable, but Tan just waits. She knows when to push and when to let silence do the work for her. Finally, after a long pause, the man reaches out and takes the bassinet. Is there any paperwork? No need to worry about any of that tonight. I'll send over a birth certificate first thing tomorrow and we'll go from there. You take this boy with your daughter now. Thank you, Ms. Tan, for your kindness. But of course, you know, the thing I've learned about kindness is that it always seems to come back around. Congratulations on your new grandson. Tan shakes the representative's hand and watches as he turns away with the bassinet, striding down the hallway and into the room where his daughter is recovering. Tan is pleased with herself.
37:51 Lindsay Graham? She's just changed that baby's life forever and perhaps made a powerful new ally for herself. It's not the first time that Georgia Tan has used the babies in her care to gain political influence. In her early years in Memphis, she carefully selected the parents she gave infants to, picking out local bigwigs and influential government employees. Those wealthy and well-connected individuals then recommended Tan's services to their families and friends. And now Tan's client list includes state senators, judges, and a future Memphis mayor. It's a powerful network of allies who are all personally indebted to Tan and have an interest in protecting her. But it's not just elected officials or the wealthy coming to the Tennessee Children's Home Society.
38:36 Lindsay Graham? By the middle of the 1930s, Tan is so well-known that she has a waiting list of would-be parents from around the country. She even receives applications from as far away as Canada and Mexico. It was only 20 years ago in Mississippi that Tan had to go door-to-door to find a willing couple. Now people are lining up to ask for help in growing their families. Some write to Tan with heartbreaking tales of grief and loss. Others speak of a deep longing for children of their own that life is left unfulfilled. But not everyone who writes has warm words alone. One day in early 1935, Georgia Tan is sitting in the Memphis office of the Tennessee Children's Home Society going through a stack of mail.
39:18 Lindsay Graham? Ever since the Christmas baby giveaways began five years ago, the number of people responding to them has grown larger and larger. One of Tan's first tasks of the new year is always to sift through the letters from hopeful parents-to-be. It's quiet in the office as Tan opens each envelope, scans the letter inside, and places it onto one of several piles. Some get sorted by location, others are set aside for consideration of special requests: older children, specific hair color, or eye color. Eventually, Tan comes across a plea from a couple in New York, and like so many others, they write that they are desperate to have a child. But what sets them apart is that they say they're willing to pay for one if necessary. Intrigued, Tan places this letter to the side.
40:02 Lindsay Graham? She began her work for the TCHS, in charge of its fundraising, so thinks that maybe this couple would be willing to make a donation. But after a while, that letter is just one in yet another pile on her desk. Several couples are now offering to pay for the privilege of adopting a child. They've seen the photos in the newspapers, they've read Tan's articles in magazines, and they want one of her adorable blank slate children for themselves. Tan sits back and looks at the growing stack of letters from people desperate for children of their own. Then she starts to wonder: just how desperate are they? And just how much might they be willing to pay?
40:44 Lindsay Graham? From Wondery, this is episode two of The Woman Who Sold Babies for American Scandal. In our next episode, Georgia Tan turns the adoption process into big business, but questions start to be asked about the care of children in Memphis. American Scandal is only possible because of listeners like you, so thank you. And don't miss an episode. Be sure to follow American Scandal on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. And Audible subscribers can binge new seasons of American Scandal early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. And to find out more about me, including my other podcasts, my live show, the history tours I'm arranging, and all sorts of other things, go to historyishuman.com. That's historyishuman.com.
41:33 Lindsay Graham? If you'd like to learn more about Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home Society, we recommend the book The Baby Thief by Barbara Bosance Raymond and Babies for Sale by Linda Tollitt Austin. This episode contains reenactments and dramatized details. And while in most cases we can't know exactly what was said, all our dramatizations are based on historical research. American Scandal is hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsay Graham, for Airship. Audio editing by Christian Paraga, sound design by Gabriel Ghul, supervising sound designer is Matthew Filler, music by Throng. This episode is written and researched by Joel Callen, fact checking by Alyssa Jung Perry, managing producer Emily Burke, development by Stephanie Jens. Senior producers are Andy Beckerman and Andy Herman. Executive producers are William Simpson
42:17 Lindsay Graham? for Airship and Jenny Lauer Beckman, Marshall Louie, and Aaron O'Flaherty for Wondery.
42:31 Speaker 06 Journalist Tristan Redmond goes where no son-in-law should ever go. Deep into his wife's family history, digging up the cold case of who murdered her great-grandmother. Because, I should mention, he thinks the murderer might actually be the beloved family patriarch. For the best binge-watch series like Ghost Story, listen to the Audible True Crime Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
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