A life-changing amount of money was on the line, as a dead man's prank led to a “race” to see who could have the most babies in 10 years.
In 1926, eccentric Toronto millionaire Charles Vance Millar left behind a bizarre will. His final clause was the strangest of all: his entire fortune would go to the Toronto woman who gave birth to the most children in the next decade. What started as a joke collapsed into one of the strangest, most controversial sagas of the Great Depression, known across Canada as “The Great Stork Derby.”
Many who entered the race were from poor, immigrant, and working-class families. Threats of extortion, kidnapping attempts, personal tragedies, lawsuits, racism, classism, and an invasive media circus followed them around for years. And amidst the chaos, as it turns out, life 100 years ago wasn’t all that different from today: the derby uncovered deep-seated xenophobia, eugenics-driven backlash, religious oppression, and courtroom battles over what legally counted as a child.
This channel hosts a documentary series for educational purposes (EDSA). Content features authoritative sources, including academic journals, scientific studies, interviews, and newspaper articles designed to educate. All videos include editorial context that enhances their educational and artistic value.
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