Inspired by the photographs and documents of the Beulah Home.

This home for unwed mothers and their babies was founded in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1909 by Maude Elizabeth Chatham. The house was decorated in a cozy, homey way rather than appearing institutional, and it welcomed the women and girls into the Beulah “family” during their stay.
The Beulah Home emphasized compassion and forgiveness, and provided interdenominational Christian guidance for the women and girls to help in “recovering them to a healthy, moral and spiritual life” as well as teaching them how to care for their babies. It was felt that many of these girls had not benefitted from a stable home life, and lacked education about the basics of life, and therefore were easily taken advantage of by men.
The Beulah Home was different than other institutions of the day in another significant way. It was common practice at the time to pressure unwed mothers into giving up their babies for adoption, and in some cases babies were taken away from the mother immediately after giving birth. Although the Home arranged for adoptions, they also helped mothers to keep their babies if they wished to do so. An enlightened view, well ahead of its time.

Provincial Archives of Alberta # PR1971.47