VPRS 18026 Non-Ward Adoptions File Register

Full description

The Non-Ward Adoptions File Registers were created and maintained by the Department's Adoptions section to record details of the adoption of children who were not wards of State. The Department began to arrange the adoption of non-wards following the declaration of the Adoption Act 1964.

Entries were made in the registers at the time that a 'Consent to adopt' notification was given by the natural mother or natural parents, and not at the time when an adoption order was made. An entry, therefore, does not necessarily signify a finalised and legalised adoption. The two registers are arranged in chronological order within each volume. Entries within the registers are in annual single number order, ranging between 66/1 - 90/5. The second volume has an alphabetical index to entries. However, there is no index to the first volume.

Volume 1: Includes details of children only

Volume 2: Includes details of children and applicants to adopt and the volumes provide a register to adoption files for young people who were not State wards.

The adoption files for non-wards are held as VPRS 17791.

Volume 1: titled 'Non Ward Adoptions Numerical Index 1964 Act. Commencing 1/1/1966 - June 1975'.

The first register is defined on its cover as a numerical index, as it lists the files created and consents taken, in chronological and numerical order. There is no internal index to entries. In order to access the information it is necessary to know the approximate date and year that consent was taken, and then scan through the entries around this time period. This date will usually be less than twelve months prior to date of granting of the adoption order.

The column headings for information recorded within the volume include: file number, child's full name and place of birth, options for 'A' / 'R' or 'P' [ no key to abbreviations included]. Columns added later over time include: date registered, hospital of birth, institution name where the child is held [eg Bethany Babies Home], Marital status of mother, TFC date [no indication of meaning of 'TFC'], C/E P [no indication of meaning of C/E P], and date of Placement with a View to Adoption.

Handwritten administrative notes appear throughout with additional information regarding cases, eg: Revocation date, Finalised date

Volume 2: No title information is recorded on the front of the register.

The second register consists of two parts, an alphabetical index and the main body of the register.

The index facilitates access to the information contained in the main body of the register. It lists, in alphabetical sections, the surname of the child, date of birth and file number, and the applicant's name, address and file number.

The body of the register includes information regarding case file number, name, date of birth of the child, Parents status [eg: 'S' single or 'M' married], date of Placement with a View to Adoption and age of child at placement, applicants surname and address, child's new given names, date adoption granted and age of child at date of granting of adoption, court number and name, name of judge.

Details regarding a child may appear twice if consent was revoked and then given a second time. Usually, the same file number was used; details may be entered above the original entry or entered later in the volume ands cross referenced (eg see after entry 78/103).

The content of the two registers overlap in date range and so contain some identical information. In both registers, entries were made when consent was received, but the second register contains significantly more detail regarding the finalisation of an adoption. The first register seems to record only that a consent has been received for a child, including details of court decision, while the second register records details of the applicant with whom the child was placed.