Unclaimed

Who was responsible for the untimely death of 47 patients on one fateful day in 1942 at the Oregon State Hospital? This episode uncovers the tragic accident behind the deaths, explores the consequences of institutional neglect, and details the long search to identify the unclaimed victims and return them home.

A locked room held the ashes of over 3,000 unclaimed cremains of forgotten patients from the Oregon State Hospital. In the series premiere of "Unclaimed", volunteer genealogist Phyllis Zegers uses century-old asylum ledgers and archives to uncover their identities. Her deeply personal mission aims to restore dignity and memory to those who died in the institution and were left behind, successfully reuniting hundreds with their families. Join her quest to connect with living descendants and finally bring their long-lost relatives home.

For decades, thousands of stories lay hidden in the Oregon State Hospital's "Room of Forgotten Souls," holding approximately 3,500 copper canisters of unclaimed cremains from patients who died there and in surrounding institutions, some as far back as 100 years ago. Fifteen years after its discovery, an online database and memorial have brought these cremains to public attention, reuniting hundreds with living relatives. Still, many secrets remain. Listen here as “Unclaimed” delves into these untold stories using Ancestry's tools, archival records, and genealogy research with host Amy Standen. Listeners will hear about newfound siblings, the mystery of a famous poet's missing matriarch, and life at OSH through medical records and descendant accounts. The series will reveal how Ancestry is uncovering family secrets and reuniting forgotten ashes with modern-day descendants. Unclaimed premieres Tuesday, Nov. 4th. New episodes every Tuesday.