From Father's Property to Children's Rights: The History of Child Custody in the United States

This book is fair and comprehensive and, thankfully, free of feminist cant and propoganda. I learned much even though I know the material fairly well. My major insight was that custody has always been based on finding someone who will support the child, indentured servant or divorced wife and protect the State from having to pay. The change from father custody to mother custody has forced the State to become increasingly effective at requiring the parent with money to give the money to the other parent, allowing custody to be given to the less economically viable parent.