I was in White Shield.  In 1987.  I had a roommate, her name was Jackie.  She had a son named Tyler.  There were many young mom’s there at the time I was there.

I would really like to get in touch with Colleen, she had a son named Steven (Stephen).  I would like to reconnect with her and others that were there at the same time I was.  There was another young mom there. Her name was Ruth. We both were from the same town.  Before we went into White Shield.  I believe there was a girl named Sheila, she had a girl. I think she named her Chantel.  This was a long time ago. And I am trying to remember who I can.

Susan's baby, Sam

I truly would love to get in touch with my old counselor from White Shield. His name was Keith B Baker.  Married to Jill M Carter Baker.  They had two boys and a one girl.  Natasha.  I think was her name.  It would bring me great pleasure in reuniting with some girls and staff from there.  I hope someone will see this. And recognize that they were there, when I was.

I have often thought of the babies in the daycare.  As us girls would go to school.  Take turns in the home with different chores.  Attending a group therapy class.  That the home had on sight.

Susan, Sam and grandson, Eli (1st boy in the family in 23 years!)

I was there with my son.  His name is Samuel. After leaving the home.  I ended up putting Sam up for adoption.  I have to say it was the most toughest decision one had to make.  It was better off for him.  I could not offer him nothing but my love.  My family members were never supportive.  They still are not till this day.  Anyway, 5 years ago, I was reunited with Sam.  And he actually just moved back home with me after us being apart for 20 years.  We kept in some letters and photos over the years.  But I had a hole in my heart the entire 15 years we where apart. Before I got to see him again.  I cannot tell you the VOID it has filled for me.

Please if anyone remembers me, or the people I have spoken of.  Please let me know.  If you know them still today.  I really want to be reunited with the girls that shared the home with me at the time.

Best Wishes,
Susan R.

"All my kids with me. I adopted two and had three." ~Susan

You may contact Susan by email at anybodyinthere71(at)msn(dot)com.

I am trying to locate Martena Esther Jones (my birth mother) or my surviving siblings.  I was born in the White Shield Home of Portland, OR on October 25, 1940, and my birth name was Philip Stephen Jones.  At that time, Martena’s residence was listed as 305 E. 18, Salem, OR.  She was 20 years old, and born in Seattle, WA.  The 1930 census listed her as living in the residence of Archie and Louis Robbins, Caraline E. Close, Frank M. Cronn, Dorothy M. Cronn, Sylvia B. Cronn, and Joseph E. Cronn.  I am looking to reconnect with my family.

Please forward any information concerning my family to 202 Bonham St., Nocona, TX, or my email address – stephen_fabrick@yahoo.com.

[Contact information is included with permission.]

Dear Friends, What a wonderful project -

I lived at 3115 NW Thurman in the 1960s, and when we were kids we used to see the beautiful pregnant girls taking walks. Our house has the fountain on the corner, just over the bridge. It was many years later that I had any idea how important it was that this home was available to them. In my own family, getting pregnant meant staying home, regardless of marriage. And though some girls were there for other reasons, many seemed to be there to hide out. Well, what a beautiful place to have a baby. So peaceful and surrounded by nature’s beauty.

I am also doing research on the house we lived in, and have come to a crossroads because I need to find out some information about Pearl Thompson, a maid/cook at the house in 1910 – 1920? for the Elrod family. she may have had a child, and it crossed my mind that she might have delivered the child at the White Shield’s Home. has it been long enough ago for you to release any information about this? The child may have been born in 1916, or 1917, and died six months after birth. The child’s name may have been Martha Thompson, and I do not know if Pearl was married. She was 19 years old in 1910.

Many of the records in Portland were destroyed by fires and floods. I would appreciate any assistance that you may have. I cannot locate your history anywhere, so I do not even know if you were operating between 1910 – 1920. Have a wonderful day.

I would like to find the Grandmother of my children. Apparently she gave birth to a son at the white shield home in June of 1956 or 1957  on or about the 11th.  My children are estranged from their father and his adoptive parents and I would like to find their real grandparents or family so they can enjoy having an extended family.  I live in Portland as do my children.  They would like to have grandparents to share their future families.

Back in 1968, at the age of 18, my mother gave birth to a baby boy at White Shield in Portland.  She remembers the routine of her daily duties, a dishwasher was her chore she chose to do.  She was in a room with 5 other girls and she remembers that the girls went by their first name and last initial.  She mentioned that they had Sundays off and she and several other pregnant girls would walk down the hill to the market near by and get ice cream cones.  She has never had or attempted any contact with the little boy, but remembers having about a hour to hold and rock him before he was taken away; she watched out the window as they took him to a car and drove off.

Ten years later she had me, and I always wonder what it would be like to have a sibling because I am her only other child.

I write this asking for a few tips, on who I should contact or what website might be helpful to assist me in maybe locating information about the little boy that is my half brother.

Thank you
Laura M.

I am just beginning the process of trying to locate the son that my mother relinquished for adoption in the early 1940′s.  She stayed at and gave birth at the White Shield home.  I did not learn about this child until after my mother’s death in 1989.  It was, sadly, something she could never have disclosed.  What prompted my search was the book The Girls Who Went Away.  I was so moved by the words of both the mothers and their children that I felt compelled to find the child, even though I could no longer talk to my mother about this event.  There is no doubt in my mind, however, that the birth and relinquishment of this child changed my mother’s life immeasurably, irrevocably, and in ways that none of her other 6 children and her husband (who did not know about the birth) could imagine.