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Jean Paton ~ Orphan Voyage

Jean Paton was long considered the mother and grandmother of the adoption reform movement. She began her quest for openness in the 1950's and continued until her passing in at age 93 in the Spring of 2002. She was unique, strong and way ahead of her time. In 1954, she wrote The Adopted Break Silence, a groundbreaking work sprouting from her own experience in searching for her own birthmother, and interviews with forty adopted persons. Jean was born December 27, 1908 in Detroit, Michigan where adoptions were still open, allowing her to obtain her original birth certificate when she wanted to know her history. However, by the time she began her research, records were sealed almost everywhere. Jean spent the rest of her life pointing out the injustice and working to see records open.

• Jean Paton pictured at a Parade
• Jean Paton picture
• "The Adoption Colony" 1964-1983
• Orphan Voyage 1968
• Also see Newsletters on this site for many of the Orphan Voyage Newsletters

E. Wayne Carp is writing her biography. Great  blog at: http://ewaynecarp.wordpress.com/ . The "Jean Paton Papers" are stored at University of Florida, George Smathers Libraries Special Collections,

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