Three related documents were found by Gary Vaughan Fulghum in family files in March 2026. Together they constitute the post-adoption paper trail for Gale Fulghum's amended birth record.
Document 1: Kansas City Transcript of Birth Record
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Bureau of Vital Statistics
Transcript of Birth Record
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| C-No. | 8754 |
| NAME | Aura Gale Fulghum |
| BORN | February 19, 1923 |
| SEX | Male |
| DATE FILED | February 21, 1923 |
| FILE NO. | A1 1251 |
| Fee | 25c |
Signed by:
- Hugh L. Dwyer, M.D., Health Director
- Geraldine Holmes, Registrar
Note: The "Date Filed" (Feb 21, 1923) refers to when the original birth was registered, two days after birth. The name "Aura Gale Fulghum" reflects the record as amended after adoption; the original registration was under "Infant Lloyd" (see File No. 916). This transcript is an extract showing the current state of the local record, not a copy of the original.
Document 2: Missouri Certified Copy of Birth Record
Department of Social Services MISSOURI DIVISION OF HEALTH JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI
Certified Copy of Birth Record
This is to Certify That there is in the Unit of Vital Records of the Division of Health a record with State File No. AL-10906 and filing date Jan. 28, 1946 which shows that Aura Gale Fulghum Sex Male was born on February 19, 1923 in Jackson County, MISSOURI.
The original record was amended to read as shown above on _________ (blank).
In witness whereof, the seal of THE DIVISION OF HEALTH OF MISSOURI has been affixed hereto on June 21, 1979.
Signed: Joseph B. Reichart, STATE REGISTRAR
Form VS 180 - Rev. 6/61
WARNING: This document is not valid if it has been altered in any manner whatsoever, including photographic reproduction. Do not accept if raised seal of DIVISION OF HEALTH is missing.
Document 3: Standard Certificate of Live Birth
THIS IS A CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENT (Do not accept if rephotographed, or if seal impression cannot be felt.)
THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS PROHIBITED BY LAW (Chap. 193.380 RSMo 1969)
STATE OF MISSOURI, CITY OF JEFFERSON
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this is an exact reproduction of the certificate for the person named therein as it now appears in the permanent records of the Bureau of Vital Records of the Division of Health of Missouri. Witness my hand as State Registrar of Vital Statistics and the Seal of the Division of Health of Missouri this date of JUN 21 1979.
Signed: Joseph B. Reichart, State Registrar of Vital Statistics
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH OF MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
STANDARD CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| State File No. | AL 10906 |
| Registration District No. | 149 |
| Primary Registration District No. | 1002 |
| Registrar's No. | 3486 |
Place of Birth
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson |
| City or town | Kansas City |
| Hospital or institution | (blank) |
Mother's Usual Residence
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| State | Missouri |
| County | Jackson |
| City or town | Independence |
| Street No. | 1222 N. Liberty |
Child
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name of child | Aura Gale Fulghum |
| Date of birth | Feb 19, 1923 |
| Sex | Male |
| Twin or triplet | (blank; single birth) |
| Number of months of pregnancy | 9 |
| Is mother married | Yes |
Father of Child
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Fred Forrest Fulghum |
| Age at time of this birth | 25 yrs |
| Color or race | W |
| Birthplace | New Paris, Ohio |
| Usual occupation | Employee |
| Industry or business | Bus Service |
Mother of Child
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full maiden name | Dora Sybil Holt |
| Age at time of this birth | 19 |
| Color or race | W |
| Birthplace | Wilmot, Kansas |
| Usual occupation | Hwf (housewife) |
| Industry or business | (blank) |
Other Children Born to This Mother (Not Including This Child)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| How many other children now living? | 0 |
| How many born alive but now dead? | 0 |
| How many children born dead? | 0 |
Certification
"I hereby certify that I attended the birth of this child who was born alive at the hour of 10:32 a.m. on the date above stated and that the information was furnished by (blank)."
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Attendant's own signature | W. L. Gist |
| M.D., D.O., midwife, or other | M.D. |
| Address | K.C. Mo. |
Filing
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date received by local registrar | Jan. 28, 1946 |
| Registrar's own signature | R. M. James, M.D. |
Analysis
This Is the Post-Adoption Amended Birth Certificate
This certificate was filed with the state on January 28, 1946, twenty-three years after Gale's birth. It replaces the original birth registration (File No. 916, "Infant Lloyd," mother Clara Lloyd, father blank) with the adoptive parents' information:
- Fred Forrest Fulghum as father
- Dora Sybil Holt as mother (Sybil's full maiden name, with given names reversed from her usual "Sybil Dora")
- Child's name changed from "Infant Lloyd" to "Aura Gale Fulghum"
- Mother listed as married, with no prior children (erasing Leo Eugene Orrill, who died at 6 days in 1922)
- Birth location changed from "General Hospital" to no hospital listed
- Mother's address listed as 1222 N. Liberty, Independence, the Fulghum family home
Age Discrepancies
The ages listed for the parents do not match their known birth dates:
| Parent | Age on Certificate | Actual Age (Feb 1923) | Known Birth Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Forrest Fulghum | 25 | 27 | 1895 |
| Dora Sybil Holt | 19 | 22 | 1900 |
Notably, Clara Francis Loyd (the biological mother) was born 1903, making her 19 at the time of birth, which matches the "age 19" listed for the mother. This could be coincidence, or it could indicate that some information from the original record bled through into the amended version.
Attending Physician
Dr. W. L. Gist is listed as the attending physician on both the original birth notification (File No. 916) and this amended certificate. This is consistent: the attending physician is a fact of the birth, not of the adoption, and would remain the same on an amended record.
Connection to Adoption Search
Patricia Becker (Missouri District Court paralegal) found no adoption records under Lloyd or Orrill names (March 2026). This certificate suggests the adoption was processed under the Fulghum name. Gary Fulghum recommends searching for adoptions under "Fred Forrest Fulghum" and "Dora Sybil Holt" specifically.
The 1979 Certified Copy
Gale obtained this certified copy on June 21, 1979. According to Patricia Becker, adoptees should not have been able to obtain their unredacted original birth certificate until Missouri law changed in 2019. However, Gale had political connections in Jackson County. Patricia and Gary both note this may explain how Gale obtained the original File No. 916 document (showing "Infant Lloyd" / Clara Lloyd), which he kept sealed in an envelope marked "do not open until my death."
Document Chain
- Feb 19, 1923: Birth at General Hospital, Kansas City
- Feb 21, 1923: Original birth registered as "Infant Lloyd," File No. 916 (Kansas City DOH)
- Unknown date: Name changed to "Aura Gale Orrill" (no document found)
- Jan 28, 1946: Amended birth certificate filed with state as "Aura Gale Fulghum," parents Fred Forrest Fulghum and Dora Sybil Holt (State File AL 10906). Likely in connection with Fred's formal adoption of Gale.
- Jun 21, 1979: Gale obtains certified copy of amended certificate from Jefferson City
Source
Photographs of original documents, found in family files by Gary Vaughan Fulghum, March 2026. Shared with Jordan Fulghum March 24, 2026.