Research regarding the cremains is ongoing and this information will be updated periodically.

Oregon State Hospital unites families with cremated remains of deceased patients

While the Oregon State Hospital has made enormous strides toward improving the care and treatment of the patients of today, there is unfinished work in honoring patients of previous generations.

The Oregon State Hospital is custodian of the cremated remains of approximately 3,500 people who died while living or working at Oregon State Hospital, Oregon State Tuberculosis Hospital, Mid-Columbia Hospital, Dammasch State Hospital, Oregon State Penitentiary, Fairview Training Center, as well as members of the community, who were cremated at this facility between 1914 and the 1970s. These are the cremains that have not yet been claimed.

The hospital hopes to change that and unite the cremains with family members. To that end, the hospital has posted this revised list of individuals whose cremated remains are in its possession. Hospital officials urge anyone who thinks he or she may have a family member who passed away at one of these institutions to review the list. As soon as the connection can be confirmed, the hospital will make arrangements for the cremains to be provided to the family.

List of names

The names of people whose cremains are in the custody of the state hospital are listed alphabetically by last name. Listings include the date of birth and the date of death, when known. The Oregon Legislature passed a law that allows the hospital to disclose this information, which is protected by privacy laws, for the purpose of reunification and construction of a memorial.

Please Note:

If you cannot find the name of someone whose remains you think may be in the possession of the hospital, be sure to check for different spellings. Information for the database was compiled from several sets of hospital records and archives. Many of these records are handwritten, and the hospital has more than one spelling for some patients. If the date of death matches, and the name is similar to that of your relative's, please contact the Health Information Department so further verification can be done.

How to claim remains

Families who identify relatives on this list should contact the Health Information Department at 503-945-2976. You can also reach the Health Information Department by email at osh.cremains@state.or.us or postal mail:  OSH Health Information Department, 2600 Center St. NE, Salem, OR, 97301.

To claim the remains, families will need to provide the following information:

• A certified copy of the deceased patient's death certificate, which is available from the Oregon Health Authority; order information is available by calling 971-673-1190 in Portland. Death certificates will be returned to the family. For information about ordering a death certificate visit the Public Health website.
• A signed "Authorization for Use and Disclosure of Information" form, which the hospital needs to release the ashes, records or both. The form is available on the Oregon Health Authority website. Search for form 2099.
• A letter providing enough information to confirm that the person making the request is related to the deceased individual.

Once all the required documentation is received, the Health Information Department will review and process the request. If the request is approved you will be contacted to schedule an appointment to claim the cremains. Please keep in mind this process may take up to 30 days.

Blue Mountain Recovery Center - Pendleton, Oregon

Blue Mountain Recovery Center in Pendleton is part of the Oregon State Hospital system. Patients who died between 1913 and 1982 were cremated at the time of their deaths. In 1984, cremains not claimed by family members were buried in several common graves at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton. For information regarding these remains, contact Emily Lorett at 541-276-0810 Ext. 325 or emily.m.lorett@state.or.us​.

Examples of how to refine the list:

• Clicking on any column name will sort the list in ascending or descending order
• Typing "tho" in the Search field will bring up variations of names containing “tho” in any name field
• Typing "1898" in the Search field will filter the list to show only records with 1898 in a date field
• Typing “tho 18” in the Search field will filter the list to show only records with “tho” in any name field AND “18” in any date field

Memorial for unclaimed remains

The Oregon State Hospital is planning a memorial to honor those individuals whose remains were unclaimed for decades and those that may never be claimed. This project, a collaboration with the Oregon Arts Commission, is funded by the Percent for Art in Public Places Program in the new hospital's construction budget.

The Oregon Percent for Art in Public Places law (ORS 276.073-090), passed in 1975, requires one percent of direct construction funds of new and renovated state buildings, with construction budgets of $100,000 or more, be used for the acquisition of works of art.