Orphanage Records

Here is an interesting article by D. Joshua Taylor about the history of orphanages in the United States and how to trace orphans in your ancestry. As with doing any research, it's important to understand the history of the area where your ancestor lived and what records would have existed during that time period. When researching orphans (or adoptions), you will first need to do your historical research!

GLOBAL ADOPTEE GENEALOGY PROJECT

The Global Adoptee Genealogy Project (GAGP) will help adoptees learn about their own biological and cultural roots through  DNA testing partners and with the science, technology, and adoption communities.

Mixed Roots Foundation will recruit participants, and will help offset costs of DNA testing for adoptees in need of financial assistance.

To learn more about the GAGP, contact fillinginthegagp@mixedrootsfoundation.org

New Adoption Law

A law signed May 10, 2010 allows adopted adults born in Illinois before January 1, 1946 to request non-certified copies of their Original Birth Certificate (OBC), listing the names of their birth parents.

If you are an adopted person born after January 1, 1946, you can now (as of November 15, 2011) request your OBC .

Learn about the new adoption law and how to obtain a non-certified copy of the original birth certificate.

New Adoption Law

There is a new adoption law which may affect genealogical research.

It allows Illinois-born adopted adults to request copies of their original birth certificate listing their birth parents by filing a form with the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange (IARMIE). 

Birth parents of adopted persons born after January 1, 1946 may request that their names be removed from copies of the original birth certificate during their lifetime.  All birth parents may share background information or indicate a desire for contact through the IARMIE.