The thing about Georgia moving to Memphis is that it was so well-suited for her personality and needs. She was direct, never subtle, demanding what she wanted and didn’t make any effort to hide her crimes. By 1924, Ed Crump had created a culture of fear in Memphis and citizens were fearful to criticize him or his friends for any reason. And Georgia Tann quickly became friends with Crump.

Georgia dove head first into the adoption scene in Memphis, making every contact she could do further her mission. She visited merchants door-to-door, soliciting donations and espousing the benefits of adoption. It benefited not only children, she emphasized, but taxpayers, who would be spared the cost of maintaining orphanages. She mentioned the tax aspect often, and in the 1930s claimed to have saved Memphis citizens $218,000 by arranging two thousand adoptions.

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SOURCES

Early Twentieth Century | A History of Tennessee Student Edition

Raymond, Barbara Bisantz. The Baby Thief.  Hachette Books. 

Edward Hull "Boss" Crump (1874 - 1954) - Genealogy