The Great Stork Derby

Babies for an Inheritance and the Bizarre Toronto Contest

The Great Stork Derby was an unusual contest sparked by the will of a wealthy Toronto lawyer, who left his fortune to the woman who could birth the most children in a decade following his death. This remarkable event took place in the years between 1926 and 1936, drawing significant attention and controversy as families raced to claim a life-changing inheritance through their growing households.

The story captivated the public, as the competition unfolded across Toronto and changed the lives of many families. It not only raised questions about the lengths people would go for financial security, but also left a lasting legacy on inheritance law and public perception of family and wealth.

Background of The Great Stork Derby

The Great Stork Derby was an unusual event rooted in the whims of Charles Vance Millar, a Toronto lawyer with a taste for eccentric challenges. The contest took place in a period of economic and social challenge, and its legacy remains a unique episode in Canadian legal and cultural history.

Origins and Historical Setting

The contest began in the 1920s, a decade marked by significant economic uncertainty in Canada, leading into the Great Depression. Toronto, Ontario, served as the center of this competition.
Social attitudes toward family size and fertility were already shifting due to economic pressures and changing cultural norms. The Derby coincided with debates about poverty relief and the welfare of children in urban settings. The idea of linking childbirth to financial gain was both controversial and headline-grabbing, making the Stork Derby a focus of public attention and media interest. This contest ran for ten years, adding a sense of anticipation and competition during a time of hardship.

Charles Vance Millar's Eccentric Will

Charles Vance Millar was known for his love of practical jokes and unusual legal stipulations.
His will, drafted before his death in 1926, included an extraordinary clause: a large portion of his estate would go to the Toronto woman who gave birth to the most children in the ten years following his death.
Millar’s intention was unclear to many—some viewed it as a social experiment, others as a provocative joke targeting legal ambiguities and social conventions. The will’s wording sparked years of litigation and public interest, drawing major legal battles as families and lawyers debated the definition of both "child" and "surviving."
Millar’s unique legacy was less about personal wealth and more about how his final wishes influenced society and the law in Canada.

The Role of Toronto and Canada in the Contest

Toronto played a central role as both the setting and primary beneficiary of the Great Stork Derby.
The city’s hospitals, legal institutions, and social services became directly involved as participants and officials tracked births, validated claims, and resolved disputes.
Interest in the contest spread beyond city borders, and national newspapers regularly reported on its developments, highlighting its unusual impact on Canadian social policy.
The Canadian legal system faced an unprecedented test as courts had to interpret will provisions that prompted real public consequences.
Ultimately, the contest resulted in four women receiving substantial inheritances (the equivalent of millions today) after giving birth to nine children each. This episode left an indelible mark on both Toronto’s local history and Canada’s legal landscape.

Rules and Structure of the Contest

The Great Stork Derby was governed by a unique set of rules that shaped the nature of the contest and determined the outcome. Key factors included who could take part, how births were counted, and the legal provisions that both enabled and challenged the event.

Eligibility Criteria for Participants

To qualify for the contest, women had to be married residents of Toronto during the specified period, from 1926 to 1936. The contest was limited to women, as the bequest explicitly stated the inheritance would go to the mother or mothers giving birth to the most children within those ten years.

Children had to be born alive. Stillbirths and miscarriages did not count toward the final tally. The focus on residency meant only births that occurred while mothers lived in Toronto were eligible. This residency rule excluded newcomers who moved in during the contest's duration.

The contest was open to any married woman meeting these conditions, but social and economic factors played a role. Many frontrunners were women from working-class backgrounds who saw the bequest as a potential windfall.

Measurement and Verification of Births

Counting eligible births was central to the contest. Births had to be officially registered with local authorities to be considered valid. Verification relied on city birth records, hospital documents, and affidavits when needed.

Verification became complicated when questions arose about claims of multiple births by the same mother. Authorities checked records for accuracy and to prevent fraud. Only live births were accepted, so deceased infants and stillbirths were excluded, as set by the bequest's wording.

A committee of executors, along with city officials, scrutinized the evidence ahead of the final ruling. Disputes over births sometimes led to lengthy reviews, as families argued their cases. The process was transparent, but meticulous, to keep the contest fair and in line with the legal stipulations set in the will.

Legal Framework and Challenges

The cause of the Derby was Charles Vance Millar's will, which initiated the bequest upon his death. The will stipulated that his estate would be converted to cash and awarded to the mother or mothers who produced the most children in the decade following his passing.

This unusual bequest led to significant legal debate, including skepticism about whether the contest was legally binding. Several families, and even officials, challenged the validity of the will in court. One of the most crucial legal moments came when the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the legality of the contest and the bequest.

Legal wrangling did not stop once the Derby ended. Disputes over eligibility and interpretation of the rules continued, with the courts eventually approving the inheritance distribution to four mothers, representing the highest eligible birth counts. The contest became a case study in the boundaries of wills, bequests, and public policy in Canadian law.

Key Players and Families in the Stork Derby

Several families and individuals shaped the outcome of the Great Stork Derby through determination, resourcefulness, and unique circumstances. Not only did the contest challenge social norms, but it also brought unprecedented attention to women's lives and their families in Toronto during the 1920s and 1930s.

Prominent Women Competitors

The competition's outcome centered on a handful of Toronto women who gave birth to an exceptionally high number of children during the contest period. Standout contenders included Annie Smith, Kathleen Nagle, Lucy Timleck, and Isabel Maclean.

Each gave birth to nine children over the ten-year span. Their families varied in background and circumstance, but all faced significant public attention due to the Derby. The contest's focus on legitimate births created added pressure, impacting family lives and social standing.

Other mothers, such as Mrs. Kenny, also competed, though they did not ultimately win. For many of these women, the contest meant balancing the demands of a growing family with challenging economic times in the Great Depression.

Involvement of Grace Bagnato and Other Notables

Grace Bagnato played a crucial administrative role. As Toronto’s registrar of vital statistics, she was responsible for verifying the legitimacy of each contender's claims.

Bagnato’s precise record-keeping and impartial process ensured that only eligible children counted under the Derby’s strict inheritance rules. Her work often required investigating complicated claims, particularly where allegations of illegitimacy or misreporting surfaced.

Besides Bagnato, legal figures and estate trustees also featured prominently. They enforced Charles Vance Millar’s will and resolved disputes, setting precedents for unusual estate cases in Canada’s legal history.

Stories of Annie Smith, Kathleen Nagle, Lucy Timleck, and Isabel Maclean

Annie Smith, Kathleen Nagle, Lucy Timleck, and Isabel Maclean emerged as the contest’s official winners. After extensive review, the estate trustees declared all four had each borne nine eligible children.

A table summarizing the winners:

Name Number of Eligible Children Prize Amount Annie Smith 9 $125,000 Kathleen Nagle 9 $125,000 Lucy Timleck 9 $125,000 Isabel Maclean 9 $125,000

Their lives were significantly changed by the winnings. Despite legal challenges and public scrutiny, their perseverance symbolized the lengths families went to in pursuit of a better future.

Legal Disputes and Social Impact

The Great Stork Derby prompted legal battles, challenged social norms, and raised questions about the legitimacy of inheritance contests. The event highlighted tensions between personal freedom, public policy, and the responsibilities of charitable bequests.

Court Cases and Final Rulings

The unique will of Charles Vance Millar, a wealthy Toronto lawyer, set the stage for prolonged court cases about its legality. Millar’s estate stipulated that the woman who bore the most children in a ten-year period after his death would receive a large inheritance.

Lawsuits quickly followed, questioning both the intent and legality of the will. The case advanced through lower courts until it reached the Supreme Court of Canada.

In 1937, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the clause’s validity. The justices found the stipulation legal, though it would not benefit mothers of stillborn children or those with children out of wedlock. This ruling established a legal precedent for interpreting unusual bequests in Canadian law.

Controversies Involving Inheritance and Bequests

The Stork Derby sparked considerable controversy due to its approach to inheritance. Critics argued that tying a sizable inheritance to the birth of multiple children encouraged exploitation and risked the well-being of mothers and children alike.

Religious groups, including Protestant ministers and members of the Orange Lodge, expressed disapproval, viewing the Derby as undermining both family values and traditional inheritance practices. There was public skepticism about whether Millar’s intent was genuinely philanthropic or simply a posthumous joke.

Ultimately, only four women received portions of the estate. Several other contestants and children born during the competition were excluded due to strict interpretation of the rules. These outcomes led to further disputes about fairness and the ethics of conditions placed on charitable bequests.

Public Policy Debates and Moral Concerns

The Derby provoked active public policy debates, especially concerning the social responsibility of those creating large charitable bequests. Many questioned the wisdom of allowing inheritance provisions that could shape private behavior on a mass scale.

Medical professionals and social workers raised alarms about the health and social impact on families attempting to win the contest. There were fears of increased poverty, strain on mothers, and long-term consequences for the children involved.

Political leaders and community figures discussed potential legal reforms to prevent similar cases in the future. Debate centered on striking a balance between testamentary freedom and broader societal interests, highlighting the need for oversight in unusual or potentially exploitative wills.

The Reception and Legacy of The Stork Derby

The Stork Derby sparked strong public opinions and media attention in Toronto and beyond. Its effects touched both cultural norms and legal principles in Canada, highlighting issues of class, inheritance law, and reproductive rights.

Public and Media Reactions

The Great Stork Derby attracted significant headlines in the late 1920s and 1930s. Newspapers often covered the contest with humor or shock, describing it as a "baby race" or a "derby" for families.

Many members of the public saw the competition as scandalous or exploitative, questioning its morality during the difficult years of the Great Depression. There was also a sense of spectacle, with some following the progress of families as if it were a sporting event.

While some people viewed the contest as an opportunity for financially struggling families, others criticized it for encouraging women to have more children than they could realistically support. Public debate often focused on class issues, women's autonomy, and the intentions behind the bequest.

Impact on Canadian Society and Law

The legacy of the Stork Derby became apparent in both social attitudes and the legal system. The case tested the limits of testamentary freedom—how much control an individual could exert over their estate after death.

Courts eventually upheld the unusual clause in Charles Vance Millar's will, setting a precedent for the interpretation of wills and charitable intent. The case also drew attention to gaps in social welfare, as many families who participated faced economic hardship without lasting support.

Public discussion about the contest influenced conversation around reproductive rights, privacy, and the ethics of incentivizing childbirth. The Stork Derby remains a unique event in Canadian legal history and is still referenced in debates about inheritance law and social policy.

Charles Vance Millar: Life and Motivations

Charles Vance Millar was a Toronto lawyer with a reputation for wit and creative mischief. His professional background and passion for both the law and risk-taking pursuits influenced his unusual legacy.

Background as a Lawyer and Practical Joker

Millar was a well-known Canadian attorney who practiced law in Toronto during the early 20th century. He became known not only for his legal skills but also for his sharp sense of humor and elaborate pranks.

His will reflected this mischievous streak. Instead of conventional bequests, he left gifts that created awkward or humorous situations, such as shares in breweries to teetotalers or stock in Catholic firms to Protestants.

Millar's colleagues and peers described him as intelligent, meticulous, and deeply interested in how human behavior could be influenced by unusual incentives. The structure of the Stork Derby—offering a fortune for producing the most children—was consistent with his interest in social experiments and legal curiosities.

Connections to Horse Racing and Gambling

Beyond the legal field, Millar was actively involved in the world of horse racing. He held shares in the Ontario Jockey Club and the Kenilworth Jockey Club, frequently attending races and following the sport closely.

His fascination with gambling was apparent in both his investments and personal life. He was considered adept at calculating odds, and horse racing provided both entertainment and opportunities for calculated risk.

The mix of legal expertise and experience with gambling shaped Millar's understanding of incentives, chance, and competition. These themes appeared not only in his investments but also in the way he structured the infamous Stork Derby, treating the contest almost like a social wager.

Cultural and Social Context

The Great Stork Derby took place during a period marked by changing attitudes towards family, social welfare, and public morality in Toronto. Social organizations and reform movements played key roles in shaping public opinion and policy in the city at the time.

Influence of the Temperance Movement

The temperance movement was a dominant force in early 20th century Toronto, advocating for sobriety and moral improvement. Its influence extended beyond alcohol to ideas about family structure and public policy, promoting respectability and discipline in private life.

Leaders in the movement viewed large families as both a blessing and a social responsibility. Efforts to legislate morality involved not just supporting prohibition but also encouraging “ideal” family arrangements, which indirectly shaped reactions to the Derby. Some reformers saw the baby contest as exploiting women, while others argued it fit with pronatalist policies then favored by social reformers.

The language and arguments used by temperance advocates often appeared in debates about the Derby, especially regarding the legitimacy of births and the worthiness of contestants. These attitudes fed into discussions around what qualified families for support or recognition in Toronto society.

The Role of Social Organizations

Social organizations such as the Orange Lodge held significant sway in Toronto’s civic life during the 1920s and 1930s. The Orange Lodge, with its Protestant and British values, fostered a sense of collective identity and influenced public discourse around morality, charity, and law.

Organizations like these played a role in shaping community standards by offering mutual aid, supporting families, and lobbying for public policies that aligned with their beliefs. They also helped enforce prevailing norms about marriage, legitimacy, and the traditional nuclear family structure.

Debates over the Stork Derby winners—particularly over the inclusion of illegitimate or stillborn children—were influenced by the values advanced by such groups. Public response to the Derby and its participants reflected the intersection between these social organizations’ principles and municipal policy decisions at the time.