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Roselia was an early example of what Republicans call a “faith-based initiative.”
The Roselia Home, Foundling Asylum and Maternity Hospital — as it was originally known — was a Catholic-sponsored haven for poor or unmarried women to give birth to their children and put them up for adoption. It was also a place to house “foundlings,” infants left by their parents in a basket. The hospital was staffed by doctors and nuns from the Sisters of Charity, and it was founded in 1891 by one Charles Donnelly, who named the center after his wife. No doubt she’d have appreciated the gesture even more if the hospital didn’t serve unwed mothers living lives of 19th-century shame.
Indeed, the hospital was controversial from the outset. Sara Killikelly, whose 1907 book History of Pittsburgh calls it the “Rosalie [sic] Home,” wrote, “The institution met much opposition from some people, who perhaps justly claimed that an institution of this kind is unwise.” Apparently, there was some concern about encouraging illegitimacy by coddling infants too much. See, if you allow a safe place for illegitimate children to be born, then more babies could choose to be illegitimate. Keeping them out in the cold was good for them in the long run. It’s compassionate conservatism, 1890s-style.
But as Killikelly wrote, “[E]ven if the kindly women in charge are accused of being lenient, Christ Himself was lenient to the woman who repented, and the care of these unfortunate little ones must surely appeal to every member of the community.”
The hospital seemed to have a hard time settling down itself: Having started out on Forbes Avenue in Oakland, it moved to the corner of Cliff and Manilla streets in the Hill District before relocating to Bedford Avenue and, finally, returning to Oakland’s Clyde Street. And over the years the center provided more and more services; by 1950, it was providing tonsillectomies, pre-natal and post-natal care and training, and placement for adoption. Still the quarters were spartan: Visits from males were prohibited; only one woman visitor was allowed after delivery of the baby. Women were allowed a small radio, but were allowed only to carry pocket change, which they could spend on “stamps, telephone, candy bars, [and] cigarettes.” (Apparently pre-natal care wasn’t as advanced as it is today.)
But the hospital did provide such entertainments as bingo games, knitting circles, and even some rudimentary career skills, like taking shorthand. Mass was performed at the center; the hospital insisted that attendance was “purely voluntary.” And as one anonymous patient of the center later recalled in a 1961 commemorative booklet, in staying at the center, “I learned the necessity of living peacefully with a group of girls of all ages, colors, creeds, and backgrounds, knowing that none of us were any better or worse than the other.”
A sweet sentiment, isn’t it? If only someone could get Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat knocked up.
In 1961, the director, Sister Regis James, fretted that while “In the early days … the girls were older than they are now,” these days “we are dealing with girls in their early teens — girls still of high-school age. Occasionally, we have even had girls from our elementary and grammar schools.” No doubt all that rap music was to blame: As a Catholic priest observed — in 1961! — “A society which insists on unbridled freedom and unsupervised entertainment for its young people, which promotes glossy romance … must somehow care for those who are burned thereby.”
At any rate, the center prospered. At its height, it had the capacity for 65 women and 75 babies. And in one year, 1953, it delivered 250 infants while accepting another 53 for boarding — putting them up until they could be placed for adoption. In all, the center served some 279 women for delivery and post-natal care that year. And because Catholics keep score of this sort of thing, we also know that of those women 161 were Catholic, 118 Protestant. (Go Catholics!)
But as maternity care grew more expensive, a larger number of mothers came in simply because they couldn’t afford to deliver a baby anywhere else. In 1953, the hospital’s annual report says, 101 mothers came in for delivery — mostly from its Hill District neighborhood — and “generally took their babies home.” The price? A mere $100 to deliver your baby in the care of experienced medical staff. These days, you can’t get a refrigerator delivered for that.
But by 1953, the home was turning over more of its functions to Catholic Charities and other non-religious groups. The home finally shut down in 1970, but with the Bush Administration in power, perhaps we’ll soon see the return of the faith-based tonsillectomy and early 1960s values.
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2003.
The home did not shut down in 1970. I was 17 years of age and a resident there and had my baby in May of 1971. Only the first floor was used to house unmarried pregnant young girls some as young as 14. My vocation during my 2 month stay was to work in the laundry roon which was required as I had no money. We were allowed to keep $5 a week from government funds we received.
(continued) I put my baby girl up for adoption. A week before the adoption took place I learned that I would not be able to have anymore children due to an RH negative situation so I stopped the adoption. Best decision I ever made in my life. That baby girl grew up to become a Lt. Col. in the US Air Force, co-inventor and US Patent holder. Better yet…she thanks me all the time for keeping her.
I was a resident 1964-65 at Roseila home for unwed mothers supported by Catholic Charties in PITTSBURGH PA. Because of my young age, I gave my beautiful 8lb+ baby girl up for adoption.
I only know her birthday was shortly before Easter. I am open to reuniting, if she is interested.
boonie1234@icloud.com
Does anyone know if Roselia House would have been operating in some capacity in 1981? I was pregnant, 19(!), and my mother was trying to send me away to a “home for unwed mothers” in Pittsburgh. I visited one but don’t remember the name. Luckily I had family who came through and I stayed with them since my mother couldn’t handle anyone knowing what I’d “done!!!” Anyway, was Roselia open at that time. If not, would anyone know what other homes were in the area. Even though I ended up not staying there, I’m trying to bring everything to some conclusions in my mind to this day. Don’t particularly want to bring it up to my mother at this point. Thanks for any help!!
Roselia closed in August of 1971. It now operates as a shelter for homeless men. I don’t know of any other homes that might have operated in 1981. Maybe you could contact Catholic Charities to see if they know of other homes for unwed mothers that operated in 1981. Good luck with your quest.
Renee I wanted to ask you a question about Roselia, I was one of the last mother/baby they had, they closed 2 weeks before I was born. My mother was there from March through early August 1971.
You might want to check Booth, I think they were through the Salvation Army. https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/use/b…
I hope this helps.
I was born there in April 1953. Found out I have a twin sister. Have been trying to locate brothers and sisters if any. I was told my biological mothers name. How can I get any info on the adoption.
Me and my twin sister were born there in April 1953. We were only there 3 weeks. 2 different families took us. Any way to find out the name of our birth mother.
I was born on July 15, 1952 at Rosalia, mothers house name was Rose. My given name was Frank Patrick OLeary.
To all who are looking for their Mothers, siblings ect. Try registration with The American Adoption Congress or Search Quest America you can list your information on their sites for free. I found my two brothers with their help. Good luck to all.
My husband was born in Pittsburgh October 10,1955 birth name was Lawrence Joseph McMullen adopted thru Catholic Charities his adopted name is Lawrence Treat he is looking for birth family. Contact
Joan.m.weaver@gmail.com Thank you.
Sorry birth date for Lawrence Joseph McMullen is October 20th 1955. His birth certificate says born in Allegheny county. He was adopted thru Catholic charities. His name now is Lawrence R. Treat contact joan.m.weaver@ Gmail.com
Hello. I was born 9/28/1962 and adopted 6 weeks later thru catholic charities. Would like to find birth mother.
my mother was born in Roselia 6/28/33 under the name of baby girl cain and no father was listed. Her stepmom went and let her took the baby home at around 3 months old without adopting her. they changed her name on the birth certificate to Joan Cain but I don’t know when. I don’t have any info on whether she was officially adopted or if they just changed her name. I cannot locate any records on baby girl cain on that date in Pennsylvania. I am looking for any information on my grandfather’s side of the family.
My Grandfather was born there on August 9,1902 his name on birth card was Russell Gibb… i would like to know how to obtain the birth card as i know it listed a fathers name..i have no idea what name his mother went by…as the girls chose a name to be called back then.
I know she left 6 months after my grandfather was born and took him with her. Only to be adopted out by some other place. I would like to finish our family tree and i can’t do it without this information. Please contact me if you can tell me how to get his birth card or any other info that could help. Thank you!
Mary Ann Wardach 724 393 0065
I was born there in 1961. 1) Roselia did release paperwork to me including my birth certificate, 2) There is a facebook page called “Find Birth Parents, Siblings, Adoptees and Family” and there are “search angels”, its free, what took me years a search angel found in 1 day. Quite amazing. Here’s something interesting. My birth name was “Francis Xavier”. I asked the Nuns at Roselia why Francis Xavier? She told me that when a child was born to be given up for adoption, the Nuns would give you the name of the Saint that had the closest feast day to your birthday. In my case, I was born 12/2, so I got Francis Xavier. Apparently his feast day is 12/3. I also got the Doctors name and connected with his daughter. She said he loved helping out despite it being very controversial to work with unwed mothers. She was so happy I reached out. Pretty cool…
To all of you that are searching for birth parents names. In 2018 the state of Pennsylvania passed a law allowing adoptees to receive a copy of their original birth certificate. I have been helping my cousin who was born at Rosalia and adopted to find his birth parents. He applied to the state for his birth certificate and got it in about a month. It was the key to verifying what we thought we knew through DNA. We are now in touch with blood relatives. Here is the link to get the birth cert — https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Adoptions.aspx
I was born on Feb. 5, 1961 in Roseila Hospital. My birth name was Dorothy Marie which was the nun’s birth name that helped my mother deliver me. Her “ordained” name was “Sister Anna Marie”. I met my mother on Feb. 21, 1993 and I was the only child that she ever had and placed for adoption on May 2, 1961 to an awesome family. Her dream was to meet me and I am grateful that I was able to fulfill her dream through unusual circumstances It was a lovely experience to meet my birth mother. We knew each other 13 days until she passed on from this life. I am grateful for the life she gave me and I am grateful that she passed with joy after meeting me and her 6 year old granddaughter. For more information on this reunion visit candicehozza.com