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History/Timeline Highlights
Unique moments in time that define 125 years of creating hope.
| 1887 | Founded in Fort Worth, Texas |
| 1927 | Edna Gladney was named Superintendent of the Texas Children's Home. |
| 1936 | Edna Gladney successfully fought to pass a bill in the Texas legislature. It made Texas the first state in the Southwest to legally remove the stigma of illegitimacy from birth records. |
| 1941 | The movie "Blossoms in the Dust" starring Greer Garson highlighted the accomplishments of Edna Gladney. |
| 1951 | Edna Gladney successfully argued that adopted children should have the same inheritance rights as biological children. |
| 1950 | In honor of her decades of service, the Board of Directors renamed the agency The Edna Gladney Home. |
| 1952 | The Houston Auxiliary, the first support group of Gladney volunteers, formed in 1952. Today, there are 16 auxiliaries operating around the country. |
| 1960 | Mrs. Gladney retired in April, 1960 at the age of 74. |
| 1961 | Edna Gladney died from complications from diabetes on Oct. 2, 1961. |
| 1963 | Ruby Lee Piester joined the staff as director of social services in 1960. In 1963 she was named executive director, a position she would hold for more than 20 years. |
| 1970 | The Fort Worth Independent School District first opened a branch on Gladney's campus. Prior to that, education for birth mothers was provided by tutors. |
| 1976 | Gladney introduced its 1-800-crisis pregnancy hotline. It was thought to be the first such hotline in the country. |
| 1980 | Gladney became a charter member of the National Council for Adoption (NCFA), which was organized to promote agency adoptions |
| 1983 | The Texas Legislature enacted its Voluntary Registry Law. The Gladney Center created its own Voluntary Registry at that time, in accordance with Texas law. Gladney also operates a Sibling Registry for adopted persons born to the same birth mother or birth father. |
| 1987 | The agency celebrated its Centennial with former First Lady Barbara Bush, a Gladney grandparent, as special guest. |
| 1987 | Gladney began operating with an assumed name certificate as The Edna Gladney Center. In 1991, the Board officially renamed the agency The Gladney Center. |
| 1992 | Gladney's current international adoption program began in 1992. Today, Gladney maintains programs in Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Philippines and Taiwan. |
| 1992 | The Gladney Fund was created as a separate not-for-profit organization devoted to raising funds to support The Gladney Center. |
| 1995 | Gladney went on-line in December 1995. Gladney's home page address is www.gladney.org. |
| 1997 | Former President George Bush joined families as they celebrated Gladney's 110th Anniversary and Homecoming in October 1997. |
| 1999 | Gladney launched national advertising campaign and created new logo. |
| 2000 | Adoptive parent profiles available on line for immediate viewing by birthmothers. |
| 2002 | Gladney opens its doors to a new campus and celebrates 115 years of creating bright futures through adoption. |
| 2007 | Frank Garrott joins Gladney as CEO and Gladney celebrates 120 years of family for life. |
| 2012 | 125th Anniversary. Gladney Center for Adoption. Where Hope is Born. Register for 125th Anniversary Weekend Celebration. |
