Brookfield Project RVA﻿

Brookfield Project RVA

1/14/2016

This blog is the very beginnings of research about the Brookfield Home for Girls, a home for unwed mothers, that was located in Richmond, VA from the 1870s to 2011. My mother was born there in 1942. The research will eventually be compiled into a documentary film, not only to honor my mother and grandmother, but also for hundreds and thousands of other women who had similar experiences.

6 Comments

Cynthia Carter Waddell link

10/1/2024 12:49:01 am

I'm sorry I never saw this site. I've looked for anything Brookfield for years. I was there in 1971. I had to give my son away after keeping him for 3 weeks. I married the father. Had a daughter. Found my son when he was 20. He's gorgeous, he's nice and he likes us.

Leslie Haas

11/9/2024 10:19:56 pm

Very glad to see your comment as I've also been researching Brookfield! My sister was sent there and gave birth to a daughter in the summer of 1966. I was so happy to see you found your son --- she too fortunately found her daughter many years later. I'm replying to your comment with the hopes we can connect because I'd like to know more about the reasons they required you to keep your son for 3 weeks and for her to have had to care (and obviously bond) for 4 weeks. Hopefully you'll see this and can call or text me? My cell is 804-307-3853 and I'm now in Bluffton, SC after decades in Richmond. Thanks!

Cynthia Waddell

11/11/2024 01:21:57 am

Are you on FB? You can find me on FB Messenger. Cynthia Carter Waddell. Would love to talk about Brookfield. I live in Myrtle Beach after living in Fredericksburg for 30 years.

MB Valentine

2/22/2025 08:26:58 am

I was born there in 1949 and stayed with my birth mom for 3 MONTHS before going to foster care (Children's Home Society) and adopted at 6 months of age.

Channing Morgan Gibson(Florence Louise Bradshaw)

5/28/2025 10:11:44 pm

I was born there 9/21/46 and stayed with my BM until the middle of November. I was adopted in Hampton VA. I searched and found my BM and BF. Would love to know more about Brookfield.

Channing Morgan Gibson

5/28/2025 10:27:41 pm

My amended birth certificate shows too that I was delivered by Gwen Hudson at the Medical Arts Building. Wondering if anyone searching has requested their Non-Identifying information from Richmond. I did back in the early '80's and it helped me find my BM. Also do Ancestry for DNA matches!!