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Gladney's History
Founded in 1887 by Reverend I.Z.T. Morris, the Gladney Center for Adoption was originally known as The Texas Children's Home and Aid Society. Its work focused on finding adoptive parents for orphaned children, many of whom had been sent west on "orphan trains" from the east coast. Reverend Morris placed over 1,000 children through The Texas Children's Home and Aid Society.
Not long after Rev. Morris and his wife passed away, Mrs. Edna Gladney became superintendent of the Home. Mrs. Gladney became nationally recognized in the field of maternity services and adoption. She has also been credited with the initiation of two pieces of Texas legislation concerning adopted children:
- The removal of the word "illegitimate" from birth certificates
- Inheritance rights guaranteed to adopted children
Because of Mrs. Gladney's dedication and tireless efforts on behalf of adoption, the Home was renamed in her honor in 1950. She continued as the Executive Director until 1960. Mrs. Gladney died in 1961 due to complications from diabetes.
During the 1960's and '70s, Gladney's maternity services expansion program began under the leadership of Executive Director Ruby Lee Piester. Mrs. Piester also became well-known for her work in adoption. The National Council for Adoption in Washington DC named its headquarters after Mrs. Piester (named the Ruby Lee Piester Center). Texas Governor George Bush asked her to serve on a special committee to improve the Texas foster care system, and she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame.
Today, the Center is directed by Michael J. McMahon, the first Gladney parent to ever head the Agency.
