ABSTRACT
The outcome of the quest for information was very different for each person, and its impact upon them was strongly linked to their past experiences and their hopes and expectations. Even where the social worker had to impart painful news, or apologise for a dearth of information in some cases. Acquiring a photograph of oneself or a relative made a huge impact on each person who was fortunate enough to find this as part of their 'package of information' from Dr Thomas Barnardo. Whatever the nature of the information which people uncovered, it almost always generated powerful emotions in them, often taking them by surprise with their force. The strength of emotion tended to be greatest amongst those who had known least about their origins and who were seeking to fill gaps in their lives left by childhoods which had provided little in the way of attachments or a sense of belonging.
