The Cleveland State University Michael Schwartz Library, in partnership with Adoption Network Cleveland, presents "Adoption's Hidden History," featuring the Cleveland debut of Ann Fessler's documentary film, A GIRL LIKE HER, about women who surrendered their children to adoption in the 1950s and 1960s.

Hear what they have to say about their experiences and the long-term impact on their lives. This free and open to the public program will be held on Thursday, November 29 from 7-9 pm in the CSU Main Classroom Auditorium, located on 1899 East 22nd Street. Doors open at 6 p.m.

A panel discussion, including Ann Fessler; Dennis Goulden, Executive Producer of the Montage Film Collection; adoptee Betsie Norris, founder of the Adoption Network Cleveland; and two birthmothers will follow the film, moderated by Evan Lieberman, Associate Professor, CSU School of Communication. The event concludes with a book signing of the nationally acclaimed book, The Girls Who Went Away, by Ann Fessler (available for purchase before and after the program).

Pre-Events:

• Presentation by Ann Fessler on her installation art work at The Galleries at CSU, 1307 Euclid Avenue, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on November 29. Call 216-687-2103 for details. Free. Sponsored by The Galleries at CSU, the Michael Schwartz Library, and The Sculpture Center.
• Meet and Greet with Ann Fessler at Elements Bistro, 2300 Euclid Avenue from 5- 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 with advanced purchase, $25 at the door and $10 for students (student ID required).

For more information, call 216.875.9734 or visit http://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/fessler/.

"I'm extremely excited to bring my film A GIRL LIKE HER to Cleveland, where multiple connections exist between my film and the community," said Fessler. "I will have the opportunity to re-connect with the wonderful people at Adoption Network Cleveland. I will also meet and personally thank several people from Cleveland who were of great assistance in locating and securing archival film footage for the film, including Glenda Thornton, Director of the Cleveland State University Michael Schwartz Library, Bill Barrow, Special Collections Librarian, and documentary filmmaker Dennis Goulden, who donated films he produced for the Montage program to the library, and then generously allowed me to use footage from one of his films in my production."

About the Montage Film Collection at Michael Schwartz Library

Parts of A Girl Like Her include footage from WKYC's award-winning "Montage" series, produced from 1965-1979 by a special public affairs unit of WKYC-TV. This dramatic and professional film series focused on Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, emphasizing local history, personalities, and the contributions of Northeastern Ohio. In 1980 the Montage series of more than 250 documentary films was donated to CSU by NBC and Dennis Goulden, executive producer. Fifty-three of those programs were digitized by CSU's Michael Schwartz Library and made available to the public. One of those powerful films, "I'll Never Get Her Back," is about a woman who enters a maternity home in Cleveland to surrender her child for adoption, will be shown from 6-7 pm on November 29 and after the program. Fessler refers to it as the only empathetic film about surrender from the time period that she has found in her years of archival footage research.

About Adoption Network Cleveland

Adoption Network Cleveland, a non-profit organization, provides support, education and advocacy for adoptees, birthparents, adoptive parents, prospective adoptive parents, foster youth and parents, foster care alumni and professionals. Founded in 1988, Adoption Network Cleveland recognizes adoption as a complex, lifelong and intergenerational journey for all those whose lives are touched by it. Adoption Network Cleveland is a member of Greater Cleveland Community Shares. www.communityshares.org.

Additional contact:
Barbara Loomis, Cleveland State University, Michael Schwartz Library
216-875-9734

Linda M. Schellentrager
Communications Manager, Adoption Network Cleveland
216-482-2313