American Child Protection History & MacLaren Hall in Los Angeles

By Kirsten Anderberg

This book takes a detailed look at MacLaren Hall, Los Angeles' Child Protection institution, which was open from the 1940's until May 2003. Included are chapters about child protection history in America, Maclaren Hall history from the 1940's to 1970, and the author's first-hand account of her stay there, as an 8 year old child inside MacLaren Hall in 1969. Also included are letters sent to the author as a child inside MacLaren Hall, as well as documents from the state about records, illustrations by the author and never before printed photographs of a 1960's Mac Hall Christmas party. Letters from author's parents regarding MacLaren Hall dated 2011 are also included to illustrate the lasting effects child protection institutions can have upon families for generations. MacLaren Hall was open for 6 decades, from the 1940's until 2003. Approximately 4,000 children lived in MacLaren Hall annually in the 1960's. Millions of children have suffered through child protection services in the history of America, from the workhouses and Orphan Trains of the Industrial Revolution to modified jails such as MacLaren Hall in modern times. This issue affects huge segments of society yet it is a hidden topic, rarely spoken of. This is the first book specifically about MacLaren Hall ever published.Author Kirsten Anderberg received her M.A. degree in History from the CA State University at Northridge, with an emphasis on CA and institutional history. She earned her B.A. degree at the University of WA in Political Science. Her work on MacLaren Hall has been supported by the Historical Society of Southern CA and the author has interviewed and organized more survivors of MacLaren Hall than anyone prior in its 60 year history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1463633114
• ISBN13: 9781463633110
• Release Date: September 2011
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 26 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 0.1" x 7.0"