#23: “4 Children for Sale,” Circa 1948
Unfortunately, this horrifying photograph isn’t fake. This photograph of a pregnant mother hiding her face while her four children sit on the stairs next to a “For Sale” sign was originally published in Indiana’s The Vidette-Messenger on August 5, 1948. The mother in this photo was named Lucille Chalifoux. She was dead serious about selling her children.
According to a quote from the paper provided by Rare Historical Photos, Lucille and her husband were being evicted from their apartment and had no jobs or prospects. Lucille sold her four children to different families over the next few years. Lana, Rae, Milton, and Sue Ellen were sold to different families, only to face continued trauma and hardships. Some of the siblings were able to reunite later in life thanks to social media.