Weekly 150: Georgia Tann

In Tennessee history, Georgia Tann stands as a haunting figure, notorious for orchestrating one of the most extensive and nefarious child trafficking schemes of the 20th century. Under the guise of philanthropy, she operated the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, a seemingly benevolent institution that, in reality, served as a front for her lucrative and morally bankrupt enterprise. This article delves into the life and legacy of Georgia Tann, shedding light on the depths of her depravity and the enduring impact of her actions.

Tann was born Beulah George Tann on July 18, 1891, in Hickory County, Mississippi, to a relatively affluent family. She was the daughter of George Clark Tann and Beulah Yates Tann. Growing up in a comfortable environment, Tann’s early years were marked by privilege and stability, providing little indication of the darkness that would later consume her life.

Her father, Judge Tann, reportedly had a “domineering” personality, who had aspirations for his daughter becoming a concert pianist, and, beginning at the age of five, he put her in piano lessons that continued into adulthood.

Nelli Kenyon with The Nashville Tennessean reported that Tann’s childhood home in Hickory, Mississippi, was a popular neighborhood gathering spot. Judge Tann would sometimes bring abandoned or neglected children with him, remarking that he would need a minister, school teacher, and doctor to figure out what to do with the children.

She attended Martha Washington College in Abingdon, Virginia, graduating with a degree in music in 1913, and took courses in social work at Columbia University in New York for two summers. However, she despised playing piano and, instead, desired to become a lawyer as her father had been. Under his tutelage, she read the law and passed the state bar exam in Mississippi.

However, her father did not want her to practice law because it was unusual for women. With no apparent desire to get married or have children, she availed herself of one of the few careers available to unmarried women of her time, social work.

Following her education, Tann embarked on a career in social work, driven by a purported desire to uplift and assist vulnerable populations. Tann’s early experiences in the field of social work likely shaped her perception of society’s most marginalized members, providing her with insight into their vulnerabilities and needs.

In 1922, Tann was appointed the executive director of the Mississippi Children’s Home Finding Society, marking her first significant role in the realm of child welfare. It was during her tenure at this institution that she began to exploit her position for personal gain, laying the groundwork for the insidious operation she would later establish.

Ann Atwood, the daughter of a family friend, worked at the home as a housemother; Ann was eight years younger than Tann. She had recently given birth to a son out of wedlock, and around this time appended Hollinsworth to her name, likely to give the impression that she had actually been widowed.

It is unclear when they became a couple, but when Tann was terminated because of her questionable child-placing methods in 1924. She moved to Memphis, Tennessee with Atwood, Atwood’s infant son, Jack, and her own adopted daughter, June.

The relocation to Memphis led to Tann’s employment with the Tennessee Children’s Home Society (TCHS). Tann was hired as the Executive Secretary at the Shelby County branch of the TCHS. Its offices were located on the fifth floor of the Goodwyn Building downtown. The society was the largest in the state, and had branches in Jackson, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Tann used aggressive tactics to eventually take over the organization.

Operating under the guise of a legitimate adoption agency, TCHS quickly became a central hub for Tann’s illicit activities. With the aid of corrupt officials, including judges, doctors, and social workers, she orchestrated the systematic abduction and sale of thousands of children, primarily from poor, unmarried mothers.

Next week, I will take a deeper look into the atrocities of Tann while the head the TCHS.