| The names of
the adoptive mother and child described in this document have been
changed.
February 8, 1957
Miss Rosalind Giles, Director
State Department of Public Welfare
Austin, Texas
Re: Mrs. Calder, Proxy Adoptive Mother
Dear Roz:
We wonder if we could ask your help in following up a situation
which came to our attention and about which we have considerable
concern. On January 15, 1957, the last group of children processed
by International Social Service under the Refugee Relief Act came
to New York by plane from Greece. All the children on this flight
were for approved families for whom we had suggested the child,
except one. The one was a proxy adoption carried out by an adoptive
mother from Texas. She was most demanding and irritated that our
consultants were not giving her attention and special help. She
insisted that she did not have to follow procedure (i.e. immigration)
that the other parents did because she had already adopted her child!
The consultants who talked with her said she appeared to be drunk,
and she appeared to be over 50 years of age. She made the comment
at one point that she must be rushed through because she had another
baby at home. She also commented that she wished she had adopted
all of the babies. Although we realize this child has already been
legally adopted, we think that this child may be in need of protection.
In fact, it was the feeling of the consultants that this woman was
not the type to keep the baby herself and that she may have in mind
to give it to someone else.
On Mrs. Calder’s insistence, our photographer took her picture
with the baby. As we have these pictures and also a copy of the
parole notice, which is supposed to go to Mrs. Calder, we thought
that you might take the opportunity to follow up the situation by
giving these to her. We thought that it might be possible that your
agency would already know of this woman. Unfortunately, we do not
have her full name, but we do have the last name and address. The
child’s adoptive name is Samantha Calder.
Sincerely yours,
(Mrs.) Susan T. Pettiss
Assistant Director
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