Jayne Askin was bon April 25, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee.  She was relinquished several days later, and placed in the care of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society.  When she was officially adopted on December 10, 1940, the circumstances of her birth and pertinent medical information were sealed by the court.

At the age of 35, no longer able to ignore or pretend that there were no influences from her birthfamily on her life, she felt strongly that she had a right to learn what traits she might have inherited.  Her search encountered frustration, discrimination, and many closed doors.  But she designed a workable plan that led her to her birthfamily.    She now knows her medical history and other details of her birthfamily.  Her search has brought her closer to her adoptive parents.  She has not met her birthparents and does not feel the need to, but she has spoken with them and heard the details of her relinquishment.  In the updated second edition of SEARCH:  A HANDBOOK FOR ADOPTEES AND BIRTHPARENTS, Jayne Askin shares her method of research in seeking the facts of searchers face, and her heartfelt belief in “the right to know.”