The Willows-In Conclusion

The Willows Maternal Sanitarium
In Conclusion:

From months of research, it appears that The Willows was a clean, decent place for a young, unmarried female to stay and have her child. That is how it was advertised and promoted. Also, as it was presented in a letter to the governor of Missouri, Governor Arthur M. Hyde, dated July 8, 1924.
The time period that this information was taken from was 1923-24. We have tried hard to insure accuracy.
Sadly, it shows very clearly the social stigma and shame heaped upon the young mother..and speaks of the social stigma that they fear the child will suffer if the baby remains with its mother. I could find no evidence that the mother was ever counseled or helped in any way to keep her child. She was expected to give up her child and return to her home town and resume her life there without anyone knowing of her "sin". She was expected to move on and get on with her life.

"I was profoundly touched by the fact that Willows babies would view these pages, and for the first time, see the circumstances of the time period, and of how their mother lived while she was pregnant with them. They may even see the face of a child that could easily be themself, if they were born in this time period. They will see the nursery they were in. These pages are dedicated to you."

The following are quotes from a booklet published by The Willows. "Visitors through The Willows occasionally say that they do not see how girls can give up their babies, that they themselves would keep them, no matter what happened. It is difficult to show such people even with 47% of the girls being girls living at home either without occupation or are mere school girls, these 47 % are without means of supporting a child."

"She knows that she has made a mistake. It has already occurred and she cannot avoid the misfortune that follows in the wake of this mistake. And in any case she cannot provide the child with freedom from the stigma of conception that society places on cases like hers."

"The mere love of a child is not sufficient".

"The social stigma that needs must fall on the child and on herself alike as well as the unfortunate economic conditions of society, preclude the unfortunate young woman from attempting to keep and rear her child. So the more she loves it, the more she is likely to provide it with the normal opportunities of life by offering it a chance for home life under favorable conditions by adoption."

and that is the way it was in 1923-24..........
The above was written by:
S. Durham
P. Bohannon

Updated-8/01/99

Black Market Adoptee's Registry
S. Durham
owner

The Willows Maternity Sanitarium | Page 2-Pictures-Massage Room, Patients Room Page 3-Pictures-Dining Room, Conference Chamber, Nurses Page 4-The Nursery, The Outside Nursery, The Babies In Conclusion/Notes Back to the Black Market Adoptees Registry