Clara Andrew

Clara Andrew (18626 July 1939) was a British adoption pioneer, activist, and founder of the National Children Adoption Association. She was recognised for her work with Belgian refugees during World War I and later dedicated her efforts to fight against the practice of baby farming in the United Kingdom.

Early life Andrew spent her early life in Exeter. Her father was Thomas Andrew, a former Mayor of Exeter, and she was the second girl of nine children. Her early education was at The Maynard School, Exeter. She later studied in Germany and was at the Wesleyan College in Trull in 1881.

Career

Exeter In 1912, Andrew was appointed as one of the first members of the Exeter National Insurance Committee where she was involved in the care of children with tuberculosis. She also was a founding member and Vice President of the Devon and Exeter Women's Equitable Benefit Society, which in part administered the National Insurance Act 1911.

By 1916, Andrew turned her efforts to organising work in Woolwich Government munition factories, taking on the rank of Lady Superintendent. It was here that she gained more experience of helping homeless children and finding homes for orphans. The combination of housing Belgian refugees and organising the adoption of munition workers' orphans inspired the foundation of the National Children Adoption Association. She found that there was a constant stream of enquiries from childless couples who had always wanted children.

The National Children Adoption Association (or 'the Association') was founded in Exeter in 1917 with Andrew appointed as honorary director. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone was appointed president in 1919 and chairman of the executive committee, and the Association also received the patronage of The Queen Mother. There was interest from all parts of the United Kingdom, so centres were opened in other parts of the country including Salisbury, Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Liverpool and Bristol. In 1918 the Association's headquarters moved to London.

The Association's first hostel was Tower Cressy on Campden Hill which opened in 1918. The premises, which were originally intended to be a war memorial, were given to Andrew by The Women's Party after World War I and were jointly owned by Andrew and Princess Alice. By 1932, nearly 1,800 children had been cared for in Tower Cressy. In 1928, Andrew travelled to South Africa on the invitation of Princess Alice to speak about the objectives of the Association and share her experience with interested child welfare bodies. After her visit, a model hostel was built in Johannesburg and opened by Princess Alice. Adoption committees worked with the South African Child Welfare Council in affiliation with the Association. In 1937, she spoke to the Women's Section of the Exeter branch of the British Legion, and announced that the Association at that time had five hostels in England, more hostels in Vancouver and Johannesburg, and that nearly 300 babies were dealt with annually. Andrew described baby-farming as "one of the greatest social evils of the day."

She was largely responsible for the passing of the Adoption of Children Act 1926. With the passing of the Act, adoption became legal for the first time in England. As a precaution against "baby farming", it was ruled that no money would be passed to parents adopting children.

Ethel Snowden, a fellow activist, wrote of Andrew after her death "she raised the question of child adoption of being one of private philanthropy to that of national status and importance. ... Her earnest though humour-loving and ceaseless activity sprang from the possession of a loving heart which bruised itself over the thought of what small, unwanted children had so often to suffer. Her pursuit of the 'baby-farmer' and her minute and sustained care of the thousands of children for whom she found happy homes and tender parents was so exacting that it was possible only because she was indeed the spiritual mother of all little children, whose cry for help she could not pass unheeded."

Gertrude Smith, a matron of the Association, said after Andrew's death "Miss Andrew was never very strong, but she was a very gallant woman. She went on working until 12 hours before her death. Her last thought was for the welfare of her babies." Mrs. J R Clynes, vice president of Association, wrote "I can express nothing but admiration for Miss Andrew's work for children. It was not simply a job, it was her mission in life, her whole reason for living."