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WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JAMES?: A true story of abduction, secrecy, betrayal, and discovery by a Victim of Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children’s Home Society
It’s 3am on a hot September morning in 1949. A dark sedan pulls to the rear of a home known as an unwed mothers’ birthing clinic in Jasper, Tennessee. The small, quiet package is slipped past the screen door and slipped away in the dead of night never to be seen again. It is a scenario replayed over and over in the 1940’s by the infamous Tennessee Children’s Home Society and Ms. Georgia Tann, its unholy matron. Stolen after birth, my mother was told I was dead. I was sold for $5,000.00 to my adoptive parents in Southern California. Children ripped off the streets and playgrounds, or simply removed from their home under color of authority, the Tennessee Children’s Home Society stretched their tentacles throughout Tennessee as the Black Market Baby scam grew to unimaginable proportions. Doctors, nurses, lawyers, judges, social workers, welfare workers, and others joined on Tann’s payroll. Never daring to ask the question as to where all the children came from. Over 5,000 children were illegally placed for adoption during Georgia Tann’s reign. My agency-assigned number was 7,702. This is the story of James Arnold Bowman, my birth name given by my mother Flossie, and my life as an adoptee. After being told I was adopted at age 7, it became a life of questions unanswered until I was 60 years old. My adoptive parents elected to keep the details of my adoption a secret, never admitting they knew who I was, and the names of my parents. An accidental discovery in 2008 would reveal the secrets kept for so long, and begin my search for my birth family. Search for my true families would take over 5 years of genealogical studies, correspondence, and ending with DNA testing to finally determine my true origin. The Reader will be the investigator, following the trail of evidence presented in the suspect’s own words contained in personal and business letters, and state forms filed in California and Tennessee, from ill-documented birth in May 1949 through sanction of the California adoption in 1953. You will also receive an insight as to what it is like to be an adopted child and labeled as not being “blood relation”. It’s a journey you don’t want to miss.
112 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 19, 2016
It's unfortunate to say I can't recommend this book. Note: this contains spoilers, I suppose, but really, if you know any history of the Tennessee Children's Home Society &/or read Georgia Tann: The Baby Thief, you know enough...
While the story of the notorious, Tennessee Children's Home Society is one subject of which I always hunger for as much knowledge as I can get, the story is so riddled with holes—and it's not due to the destruction of TCHS records.
At best, the idea behind telling ones' story from this era is fantastic. I've longed to read stories from those who ended up in Ms. Tann's 'care.' The idea is pretty much where the good ends.
For those unaware, Georgia Tann's practice of concealing/altering birth records did not cause deception in Tennessee alone—this woman was actually called upon as a so-called 'expert' for all 50 states, resulting in closed adoption records that remain in place today. If you're looking for in depth detail, I highly recommend 'The Baby Thief.' It will answer many questions many readers will inevitably find themselves pondering if they're introduced by this book alone.
Back to this book, and unfortunately, the bad...
What we receive is a 50 gallon bucket of speculation. The author likely isn't far off with much of it, however, facts and details are critical in a memoir. We go from speculation over how/when a premature baby boy was stolen from a local clinic & taken (kidnapped) in to Tann's care. The speculations continued throughout the entirety.
Then there's the issue of a complete lack of any real detail about the author's California childhood. Yes, the author states he's a private person, however, if you've committed to writing a memoir, details are needed so that it reads well, seems credible & doesn't leave your reader saying, 'Wait... What? How did we get from point A to point(s) XYZ. That didn't make sense...'
When recounting incidents in his family (adoptive family, excuse me) it read more like a grievance list of all the wrongs his parents committed. In reality, prevailing knowledge & 'expert' opinion was to not tell a child s/he was adopted as it was thought to be detrimental. Again, let me stress: at the time—40s-50s in upper middle class America. The author questions his parents' motives based on today. Much as it's unfortunate that Mr. Boehner had the misfortune of being adopted in such a cruel manner (for many parties involved) I can't say I found the majority of what his parents did/didn't do all that odd.
Furthermore, when we read that his adoptive mother have apparently had heart failure as well as, a few strokes (if I'm remembering correctly) he's then upset when she mistreats he & his wife. Keep in mind he also tells his readers she's suffering from dementia. Assuming a all of that is the case, you do the math... As a young woman who is currently dealing with a father who has copd complicated by hypoxia who is just as grumpy as he can be, it's dreadfully hard to experience & watch, but it isn't personal.
By the end, we're re-working our way through the case, there's a family reunion, but not really (aka it's not really detailed all that much) and it's the kind of deal where you're left shaking your head & wanting to leave the number of your overpriced LA therapist.
Full Disclosure: I am also adopted. While I was not stolen, there may well be some grey area in there by today's standards... And this occurred in the 80s. I've reviewed many adoption books, memoirs, & documentary films. I always try to do so with an open mind, realizing that all adoptee experiences are not one in the same. That said, I really can't give this more than 2 stars (more like 1.5.) the writing style combined with the rush through so many important details, while repeatedly going over the same hypothesis again & again made for a tedious, woe-is-me read.
While I hope writing it was cathartic, I have to say, this is one of the rare times I'll suggest a psychiatrist visit (or 20) may well be in order.
To the author, if you do read this, there actually is legal precedent for having an adoption declared void due to fraud. I'll edit as soon as I remember the man's name. There was a woman who did the same. If I'm not mistaken, these were in southern states... I want to say one was Florida(?) If you feel that is something you need & want to do, please know it's been done & yours seems like a rather obvious case, even if the adult offending parties are now deceased. I genuinely wish you well.
While the story of the notorious, Tennessee Children's Home Society is one subject of which I always hunger for as much knowledge as I can get, the story is so riddled with holes—and it's not due to the destruction of TCHS records.
At best, the idea behind telling ones' story from this era is fantastic. I've longed to read stories from those who ended up in Ms. Tann's 'care.' The idea is pretty much where the good ends.
For those unaware, Georgia Tann's practice of concealing/altering birth records did not cause deception in Tennessee alone—this woman was actually called upon as a so-called 'expert' for all 50 states, resulting in closed adoption records that remain in place today. If you're looking for in depth detail, I highly recommend 'The Baby Thief.' It will answer many questions many readers will inevitably find themselves pondering if they're introduced by this book alone.
Back to this book, and unfortunately, the bad...
What we receive is a 50 gallon bucket of speculation. The author likely isn't far off with much of it, however, facts and details are critical in a memoir. We go from speculation over how/when a premature baby boy was stolen from a local clinic & taken (kidnapped) in to Tann's care. The speculations continued throughout the entirety.
Then there's the issue of a complete lack of any real detail about the author's California childhood. Yes, the author states he's a private person, however, if you've committed to writing a memoir, details are needed so that it reads well, seems credible & doesn't leave your reader saying, 'Wait... What? How did we get from point A to point(s) XYZ. That didn't make sense...'
When recounting incidents in his family (adoptive family, excuse me) it read more like a grievance list of all the wrongs his parents committed. In reality, prevailing knowledge & 'expert' opinion was to not tell a child s/he was adopted as it was thought to be detrimental. Again, let me stress: at the time—40s-50s in upper middle class America. The author questions his parents' motives based on today. Much as it's unfortunate that Mr. Boehner had the misfortune of being adopted in such a cruel manner (for many parties involved) I can't say I found the majority of what his parents did/didn't do all that odd.
Furthermore, when we read that his adoptive mother have apparently had heart failure as well as, a few strokes (if I'm remembering correctly) he's then upset when she mistreats he & his wife. Keep in mind he also tells his readers she's suffering from dementia. Assuming a all of that is the case, you do the math... As a young woman who is currently dealing with a father who has copd complicated by hypoxia who is just as grumpy as he can be, it's dreadfully hard to experience & watch, but it isn't personal.
By the end, we're re-working our way through the case, there's a family reunion, but not really (aka it's not really detailed all that much) and it's the kind of deal where you're left shaking your head & wanting to leave the number of your overpriced LA therapist.
Full Disclosure: I am also adopted. While I was not stolen, there may well be some grey area in there by today's standards... And this occurred in the 80s. I've reviewed many adoption books, memoirs, & documentary films. I always try to do so with an open mind, realizing that all adoptee experiences are not one in the same. That said, I really can't give this more than 2 stars (more like 1.5.) the writing style combined with the rush through so many important details, while repeatedly going over the same hypothesis again & again made for a tedious, woe-is-me read.
While I hope writing it was cathartic, I have to say, this is one of the rare times I'll suggest a psychiatrist visit (or 20) may well be in order.
To the author, if you do read this, there actually is legal precedent for having an adoption declared void due to fraud. I'll edit as soon as I remember the man's name. There was a woman who did the same. If I'm not mistaken, these were in southern states... I want to say one was Florida(?) If you feel that is something you need & want to do, please know it's been done & yours seems like a rather obvious case, even if the adult offending parties are now deceased. I genuinely wish you well.
June 27, 2018
Sad but quite boring. Just seems to be a repetitive list of research and results instigated by the author into his illegal adoption. He eventually found quite a number of his genetic family but for some inexplicable reason cannot move on beyond his need to commence legal proceedings against two states to have his birth name reinstated and his adoption declared illegal. He was born in 1949, so at this late time, really. What is the point.
January 22, 2020
I understand that the author suffered at the hands of Virginia Tann and her minions but there are better tellings of this story (I first heard about this scheme on the podcast Criminal, I think). This is a great piece of work for the author's family but I am surprised that he was able to get it published.
May 3, 2026
This book hits close to home, literally. I had no clue such events happened where I grew up. This is a remarkable story regarding a boy who started off as James Bowman in Tennessee and only knew himself to be Don Boehner in California. In a journey later in life to find his true identity and birth family, you see the events unfold and hear Don’s story. You find out what happened to baby James.
February 9, 2018
Not well written - repeats itself often and does not delve into actual history as deeply as this reader would like.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews