My dad was adopted so that branch of the family has always been a black hole. I researched the adopted side but have always been interested in the blood side.
On May 31, 2000, Oregon Ballot Measure 58 took effect which required issuing a copy of the original Oregon birth certificate to the adopted person. My dad got a copy of his original birth certificate but I was never able to get a copy and he didn't appear interested at the time. In the years since, the certificate was misplaced. He recently wants to know where he comes from so he got another copy of the birth certificate. What a gold mine of information!
We now have his birth mother's name, primary residence, and age. If she is still alive she will be 90 years old by October. There was no birth father listed. It also stated that he was born at White Shield Home, a home for pregnant teens.
I understand that the babies born there were kept until they were adopted. My dad was supposed to be about a year old before he was adopted so I'm assuming he was there for his first year.
Based on her unusual name, age, and residence, a quick search of Ancestry.com found her living with her mother, step-father, maternal grandmother, and half and step siblings in 1930. She was the oldest child, age 9. From there I found her mother and father in 1920 and her maternal grandparents in 1910.
Unfortunately I have no other information on her. I already know where she was in 1940, the year my father was born, so the new census will probably not bring me new information except maybe some new half siblings. My only hope on finding what happened to her is through any family that may still be living.
The Genealogy Guys Podcast #425
6 days ago
