History of The Cradle

The Cradle has a long history in adoption services. The Cradle was founded in 1923 by Florence Dahl Walrath. Mrs. Walrath was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1877. Shortly after her graduation from North Division High School, Florence married William Bradley Walrath, an attorney. They lived in Evanston and had four children. In 1914, Florence began her work in adoption through a personal encounter when her sister lost a child at birth. Mrs. Walrath put her wits, as well as her sympathies, to work and found a child whose mother was compelled by circumstances to place her baby with an adoptive family. Because of her success in this endeavor, other childless couples she knew asked her for her help, and a few years later, she founded The Cradle.

Famous Cradle Families

In the early years, adoptive families from all over the country applied to The Cradle to adopt children. Some of the more famous adoptive parents include entertainers George Burns and Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, Al Jolson, Donna Reed, Pearl Buck and Gale Sayers. Today, The Cradle continues Mrs. Walrath's legacy by creating families through adoption and finding families for children from not only the U.S, but from all over the world.