ISS gave Birth to HOLT

The page is from Catherine Ceniza Choy, Global Families: A History of Asian International Adoption in America (New York University Press, 2013).

The mainstream news media publicized Harry Holt’s rescue of twelve Korean children in October 1955 with much celebration and fanfare. A Washington Post article described Harry Holt as a “pied piper” who “shepherded 12 Korean-American babies through [the] crowded Tokyo International Airport . . . to a plane taking them to new homes in the United States.” Such publicity created the mistaken impression that this

historical moment was the product of a sole individual’s efforts. In addition to World Vision’s participation, the ISS-USA played a fundamental role by endorsing the immigration papers of nine of the twelve children. Nevertheless, while a news story in the Oregonian acknowledged World Vision’s help in the matter, it concluded, “But the spark of initiative and the flame of determination were Mr. Holt’s. . . . He has virtually given life to hundreds of children. Given his example, can anyone doubt the power of the individual?” With politicians and the press on his side, Holt’s efforts did not end there. With the provisions of the 1953 Refugee Act about to expire in December 1956, he started to organize mass international adoptions of several hundred children from Korea by appealing to thousands of American families through written correspondence. His fervor stirred major controversies about who should oversee the process of international adoption and how it should be done.