What is The White Shield Project?
The Salvation Army White Shield Center in Portland, Oregon has been serving unwed mothers and other young women in need for more than a century; almost since the day Captain Mary Stillwell and her Salvationists first set foot in Portland in the fall of 1886. Since then, the White Shield Center has made a difference in thousands of lives, and its story is one that needs telling.
The White Shield Project was established to tell that story, by collecting the stories of the women who lived and labored there, the children who were born there, and the dedicated souls who served there.
The ultimate goal of The White Shield Project is to publish a comprehensive anthology of historical data, stories, photos, creative work, etc., that accurately and compassionately reflects the history of White Shield through the experience of its residents, employees, and children (i.e., a real book, with pages.)
Needless to say, this is going to take some time to complete. Therefore, in the interest of addressing the overwhelming need that has been expressed by so many to have their stories heard today, I offer this blog as a forum. Submitted stories will be posted on “Our Story.”
How can I share my story?
For some, telling your story will be easy; for others, it will take amazing courage. To submit your story, please refer to our SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.
Is the White Shield Project affiliated with the Salvation Army or the White Shield Center?
No. I have the greatest respect and admiration for the work of the Salvation Army and the White Shield Center, and they have been infinitely helpful in providing non-client related background materials (archived news clippings, etc.) for this project. However, I am an independent writer, and neither employed by, nor accountable to the Salvation Army or its affiliates.
This page has the following sub pages.
Renee,
I just read your lovely story and was very touched….as I too am a WS child.
Actually, I believe I was kept there are the home longer than any other….I stayed there until I was 17 months old…until my birth mother’s family ‘finally’ took me home. I was then raised by my Grandparents.
I have my complete file from WS….all the letters and documents of history of my birth…all very compelling.
Why I was never adopted out I will never know…but I stayed there in that nursery for nearly a year and a half.
Your description of how you felt by going there is exactly mine….I was 58 years old. I am now 73 and the year of my birth was l936.
The place still haunts me. I have forced myself not to go back. I too was given the boxes of old things to look through….I too made copies.
Then my birth mother died and I presented her death certificate to WS and they sent me the complete file…even in the old folder….all of which I treasure.
I was raised to believe my birthmother was my sister.
She was just 16 when I was born. Oh the letters she wrote from there which I now have….so very heartbreaking.
There is so much to tell I don’t know where to begin.
It was at a time when things were very hush hush….and to make matters worse…my grandfather was a minister….so the whole thing brought shame upon the family.
I will leave it there for now.
But, I am so very grateful to be one of the WS children….they did so much for me.
Jerrun