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.
World War I
Andrew continued her interest in public work during World War I. She was a founding member of the Belgian Refugee Committee which later became known as the Devon County War Refugees' Committee. She received the Queen Elisabeth Medal from the King of Belgians in recognition of her services to Belgian refugees.
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. She found that there were casualties among the women munitions makers and babies were left motherless. It was reported that on one occasion, Andrew visited a hospital to check on one of her charges and a hospital matron gave her a baby to hold. After the nurse informed her that the baby would likely die from poor care, Andrew had the idea to offer women the chance to adopt the baby. The combination of housing Belgian refugees and organising the adoption of munition workers' orphans inspired the foundation of the National Children Adoption Association.
National Children Adoption Association
During her work with Belgian refugees, Andrew found that many British couples wanted to adopt Belgian children, so initiated scheme to secure the accommodation for Belgian refugees into Exeter and Devon households. She found that there was a constant stream of enquiries from childless couples who had always wanted children. Andrew reported that she received hundreds of letters saying "If you have got a Belgian baby with arms and legs I would like to adopt it."
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. A second hostel opened in Castlebar, Sydenham Hill which was opened by Mary of Teck in March 1933. Tower Cressy and Castlebar contained nursery training schools, the graduates of which became known as Princess Alice's Nurses.
From the years 1917-1932, it was reported that nearly 4,000 children were placed in private homes by the Association. Babies were accepted into homes of all classes and a few had gone to the Colonies.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.