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The Strange History of Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Records

The Strange History of Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Records LEGAL INTERSECTIONS The Strange History of Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Records Elizabeth J. Samuels, JD When I researched the history of adult adoptees’ access to original birth records, I did not find what I expected. I expected to find informa- tion that would explain why, sometime during the first half of the 20th century, it had been considered beneficial to close these records to adult adoptees. Instead I discovered that influential authorities during this pe- riod advised the states to permit adult adoptee access to birth records, while otherwise sealing court and birth records from inspection without a court order. I discovered that as late as 1960, the laws in some 40 per- cent of the states still did permit adult adoptees to inspect their birth re- cords. These discoveries led me to consider both why many states had nevertheless foreclosed access by that date and why most of the other states eventually changed their laws during the period from 1960 to 1990, foreclosing access at the same time that a movement was devel- oping for greater openness in adoption. My interest in the history of secrecy in adoption law had grown out of both my professional http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Adoption Quarterly Taylor & Francis

The Strange History of Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Records

Samuels, Elizabeth J.
Adoption Quarterly , Volume 5 (2): 12 – Dec 1, 2001
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The Strange History of Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Records

Abstract

LEGAL INTERSECTIONS The Strange History of Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Records Elizabeth J. Samuels, JD When I researched the history of adult adoptees’ access to original birth records, I did not find what I expected. I expected to find informa- tion that would explain why, sometime during the first half of the 20th century, it had been considered beneficial to close these records to adult adoptees. Instead I discovered that influential authorities during this pe- riod...
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN
1544-452X
eISSN
1092-6755
DOI
10.1300/J145v05n02_05
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

LEGAL INTERSECTIONS The Strange History of Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Records Elizabeth J. Samuels, JD When I researched the history of adult adoptees’ access to original birth records, I did not find what I expected. I expected to find informa- tion that would explain why, sometime during the first half of the 20th century, it had been considered beneficial to close these records to adult adoptees. Instead I discovered that influential authorities during this pe- riod advised the states to permit adult adoptee access to birth records, while otherwise sealing court and birth records from inspection without a court order. I discovered that as late as 1960, the laws in some 40 per- cent of the states still did permit adult adoptees to inspect their birth re- cords. These discoveries led me to consider both why many states had nevertheless foreclosed access by that date and why most of the other states eventually changed their laws during the period from 1960 to 1990, foreclosing access at the same time that a movement was devel- oping for greater openness in adoption. My interest in the history of secrecy in adoption law had grown out of both my professional

Journal

Adoption Quarterly – Taylor & Francis

Published: Dec 1, 2001

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