Most adoption records in St. Louis and Missouri are closed to the public. Some children’s homes or refuge records are available.

Some records are available from the House of Refuge, 1854–1909. The City Hall archive department has the Board of Manager’s Book and Admittance Register. This book includes information on the Orphanage-Prison for children ages 3 to 18, many of whom were Irish and German, juvenile offenders, and children of working mothers.

The information in the ledger varies. The name and age are usually included. It might include the birthplace and physical description.

Adoption deeds are available from 1880 to 1920 in the land records books. This is also in the card file index is at St. Louis City Hall; however, information on the birth parents is rarely found.
Last modified: 21-Jun-2016 16:37