[charliebear]

My father was born in November 1936, San Diego, CA.

My father's birthmother is either from Riverside, CA or quite possibly relocated from NY temporarily to have my father, in San Diego. CA. He was either adopted at birth or shortly thereafter. He may also be the product of a teenage pregnancy or from a young unwed woman.

His birthmother maybe the daughter of someone who owned or operated the Kress Department Store in Riverside CA back in the mid 1930's. Last names that may have a connection are Kress or Kerr.

I have always just had this major curiosity of who the other half of my father and I are... even though I am not directly affected by this, I still feel "affected" and that my children and I are missing out on knowing exactly who the other 1/2 of us is.. It just would be nice to know and to hope that maybe my father's birthparent(s) maybe still alive.

I would also like to thank his birthmother for choosing "Life" and having my father ~ he truly has been a terrific father, for which I am truly blessed!!

Thanks.

[not by default]

Hi - In checking the California State birth records I found a male Kerr born September 23, 1936 in Los Angeles County, mother's last name is Brochon. There is only one other listing with the same mother's last name of Brochon, a possible sibling? That which, is for a female born March 11, 1938 in Los Angeles county.

There is only one listing for the entire year 1936 under the name of Kerr.

In checking the California State birth records for the surname of Kress born in 1936 I found that there were 3 births altogether in that year. A single male and what seems to be a set of twins.

Carl Franklin Kress, born October 10, 1936; mother's last name is MILLER and this was recorded in San Francisco County.

Julian Vincent Kress and Juliana Marie Kress, born March 26, 1936; mother's last name is LANGLEY, also recorded in San Francisco County.

What is your dad's name? Is it the same name given to him by his birthmother or do you know if it was changed when he was adopted?

BTW, the Kress Foundation is really a big thing in San Fran! "The Kress Foundation European Preservation Program, which grants $400000 annually in [...]" Apparently it all started with department stores! http://www.kressfoundation.org/kressorg/hist.html

To note:
"For additional information on the history of the Kress stores, and splendid illustrations, see America’s 5 & 10 Cent Stores: the Kress Legacy, by Bernice L. Thomas, 1997. The National Building Museum in Washington DC possesses an archive of the building history of 221 Kress stores in 28 states and has published A Guide to the Building Records of S. H. Kress & Co. 5-10-25 Cent Stores at the National Building Museum, 1993."

The above recorded births are for the entire state of California. I realize that you didn't specifically say that these were the surnames you were looking for..but for lack of a given surname I went with those two!

Hope this helps, Brynda