This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: bella7114 Surnames: Bordenkecher, Kremer, St. Joseph's Home for the friendless in chicago IL Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.illinois.unknown/12273.2.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Jean, All I can say is Amen! I have been searching for records for my husband who was at St. Joseph's Home for the Friendless in Chicago IL for years now. I was told that the Catholic Charities do have the records. I was given the name of Michele Bianchi and her assistant is Edna Torres. I have sent out packages of information to them requesting information back from them. My husband was at St. Joes from about 1958 to about 1965, he then was fostered out to a family till he turned 18. I have called the "ladies" at the office and I have had really no reply. I am at my wit's end. My husband is living and he would like to close this chapter on his life. We have his parents marriage certificate, we have his birth certificate, we have sent this in along with all the other information that they requested. I don't know about St. Vincents Orphanage Records but it amazes me what and how big the orphanages were and how this is such a dark dark history of the United States. I did not know about the Orphan trains till I started this journey. My husband is fifty four years old, we know for a fact his biological father is dead. But we have only his mother's name, approximate age at his time of birth, she was born in New York and there is a Puerto Rico link. We do NOT know if there was a divorce or death. This has got to be the most frustrating part of research. Knowing that the information is there, but the powers that be, keep it hidden. Why? That the truth would come out. Sorry that I am going on but if you have any success any luck at all please let me know which route you took. I live in Texas and Illinois is not just in my back yard. We are planing a trip there to see what we can find but we will be on a limited schedule. The family name is Bordenkecher. Joseph Andrew Bordenkecher married Doris Marie Martinez in 1955. Joseph was about 35 years old and Doris was about 21 years old when she gave birth to William Andrew Bordenkecher in 1956. We know that William has a full blooded sister named Katherine, Kathryn ... She was adopted and she did make contact with the family once, then asked not to be contacted anymore. We do not know her adopted name, nor her married name. If I find any useful information,I will pass it along. We are in this boat together. Cathy Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.