Nat King Cole, Family Love, and the Joy of Adoption in 1960 America
When readers picked up the April 1960 issue of Ebony magazine, they encountered more than a glossy celebrity feature. They opened a window into the private life of one of the most beloved entertainers of the 20th century. The issue carried a moving first-person article by Nat King Cole titled “Why We Adopted Kelly.” In it, the world-famous singer revealed how he and his wife Maria adopted a baby boy, Nat Kelly Cole, and how the child transformed their home with laughter, warmth, and hope.
For Ebony’s audience, this was more than entertainment news. It was a portrait of Black family life, told with dignity at a time when African Americans were fighting for visibility and equality. It was also a reminder that beyond the stage lights, Cole was a father and husband navigating the same joys and challenges of parenthood as millions of readers.
The spring of 1960 was a time of upheaval and change. The Civil Rights Movement was gaining unstoppable momentum: students were staging sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was expanding his leadership, and national conversations about race and equality were unavoidable.
In this climate, mainstream magazines often failed to capture African American life beyond stereotypes. Ebony, founded by John H. Johnson in 1945, filled that void. It celebrated Black achievement, documented culture and politics, and most importantly, presented African Americans as full human beings — parents, workers, dreamers, leaders.
The April 1960 issue was significant because it featured Nat King Cole not just as a singer, but as a father. Cole had already broken barriers as the first Black man to host a network television show. By inviting readers into his home to witness the adoption of his son, he was breaking another barrier: showing the tenderness, responsibility, and modernity of a Black family at a time when such images were rarely seen in national media.
The article begins with a simple, heartfelt explanation:
“We wanted him. We wanted a boy. It’s that simple.”
Cole and his wife Maria had two daughters — Carol, 15, and Natalie, 10 (the latter destined to become the Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole). Longing to complete their family, they turned to adoption. When Nat Kelly Cole entered their lives at just over five months old, they felt, in Nat’s words, that “the circle was complete.”
The story unfolds as both deeply personal and universally relatable:
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Love Without Conditions: Nat insists that Kelly was not adopted “with a future in mind” but simply because he was wanted. “We didn’t do anyone a favor,” he wrote. “He did us a favor by coming into our home and filling it with peals of boyish laughter.”
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Parenting Philosophy: Cole emphasizes discipline rooted in love. He rejected harsh punishment, believing instead in “discipline of the mind and heart.” Each child, he argued, needed to be understood individually, not forced into molds.
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Family Adjustments: Nat recounts how his daughters welcomed Kelly, how the family prepared their home for a baby once more, and how joyful chaos entered their routine.
For Ebony’s readers, the article resonated as both celebrity revelation and a genuine parenting story they could identify with.
The April 1960 Ebony cover featured Nat King Cole with his wife and daughters, proudly introducing baby Kelly to the world. Unlike the posed glamour shots of white Hollywood families in mainstream magazines, Ebony’s photos radiated intimacy and authenticity.
Inside the feature, a series of black-and-white photographs brought readers directly into the Cole household:
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The Family Portrait: Nat, Maria, Carol, Natalie, and Kelly smiling together, embodying warmth and stability.
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Everyday Moments: Kelly in his high chair at mealtime, Kelly taking his first steps under Nat’s watchful eye, and Kelly playing with his sisters.
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Father and Son: Several images show Nat’s pride — carrying Kelly, riding with him in the car, or even wearing matching cloth hats.
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Travel and Work: Kelly joining his father on trips underscored how the Coles blended family life with celebrity demands.
These images worked as visual storytelling — a family album shared with the public. For African American readers, they countered the stereotypes of instability and absence often attached to Black fatherhood in the media.
The article is full of poignant insights and memorable details:
Completing the Family – Adoption was framed not as charity but as a natural way to complete their family circle.
Discipline Through Love – Cole emphasized that children should not be treated like products on an assembly line. Each child deserved individualized guidance.
Facing Racial Realities – Nat acknowledged the challenges ahead. His daughters attended predominantly white schools, and he was preparing all his children, including Kelly, for the realities of racism without letting it diminish their confidence.
Music and Personality – Cole marveled that Kelly, even as a baby, seemed drawn to music. He described him as mischievous, full of spunk, and already with “a lot of personality.”
Baseball Dreams – Like many fathers, Nat dreamed of introducing his son to America’s pastime. He imagined Kelly wearing a Dodgers uniform and sharing in the joy of the game.
No Favor, Only Love – Perhaps the strongest message was Cole’s insistence that adoption was not about rescuing a child but about choosing love. “We adopted him because we wanted him,” he repeated.
Each of these highlights gave readers both a window into Cole’s life and a model of loving, intentional Black fatherhood.
For collectors today, the April 1960 issue of Ebony is highly prized. Here’s why:
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Celebrity Appeal: Nat King Cole remains an icon of American music and culture, and this is one of the few first-person stories he published about his family.
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Cultural Significance: The article documents Black family life with tenderness and pride during a crucial moment in the Civil Rights era.
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Photography: The spread contains rare, intimate photographs of the Cole family, making it historically important.
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Collector Demand: Vintage Ebony magazines featuring cultural figures — from civil rights leaders to entertainers like Cole — are highly sought after by collectors and historians.
Owning this issue is like holding a piece of living history — a document of African American representation, family, and progress.
Ebony’s family-centered features endure because they did more than report. They humanized. In an era when African Americans were dehumanized by mainstream culture, Ebony printed stories of Black love, marriage, children, and faith.
Nat King Cole’s article reminds us that representation matters. By sharing his family life, he gave African American readers affirmation and gave white America an alternative to racist caricatures. Today, these magazines remain powerful cultural artifacts.
If you’re inspired by Nat King Cole’s story or want to explore more moments from African American history, Ebony magazines are a treasure trove.
👉 Browse the full collection of original Ebony magazines here:
Original Ebony Magazines Collection
From the 1940s to the 1970s, Ebony chronicled decades of Black life in real time — politics, culture, sports, entertainment, and family.
The April 1960 issue of Ebony magazine, featuring Nat King Cole’s “Why We Adopted Kelly,” was more than a celebrity profile. It was a love letter to family, a declaration of Black fatherhood, and a cultural milestone in African American media.
By sharing his most personal story, Cole gave readers not only a glimpse into his home but also a vision of dignity, responsibility, and joy in Black family life.
For collectors, historians, and admirers of Nat King Cole, this issue remains as valuable today as it was moving in 1960. It is both a family story and a historical artifact — proof that love, captured in words and images, can shape culture and endure across generations.