OSH is no longer able to remove cremains from the OSH Cremains Memorial in order to preserve its structural integrity.
Oregon State Hospital became custodian of the cremated remains of nearly 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 and Fairview Training Center. Those people, as well as members of the community, were cremated at the Salem facility between 1914 and 1973.
In 2004, Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney learned about the unclaimed copper urns and vowed to build a memorial to honor the forgotten. A history of the cremains and the hospital’s memorial is shared on the
OSH Memorial web page.
The hospital built the memorial in collaboration with the Oregon Arts Commission with one percent of the hospital’s construction budget – in compliance with the 1975 Oregon Percent for Art in Public Places law (ORS 276.073-090). The law requires that when a new or renovated state building’s construction budget is at least $100,000, one percent of that budget be dedicated to the acquisition of art. The memorial was completed and dedicated in 2014.
Today, a list of individuals whose cremated remains are still in the hospital’s possession are listed online, alphabetically by last name. Listings include the date of birth and the date of death, when known. The Oregon Legislature passed a law in 2007 that allows the hospital to disclose this information, which is protected by health privacy laws.
While cremated remains were able to be claimed in the past, due to the memorial design and structural issues, this can no longer be done. If a family member would like a rubbing of the name medallion, they can send an email to
OSH.MemorialRubbing@oha.oregon.gov with the deceased person name, their name and complete mailing address.
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.
Examples of how to refine the list:
- Click on any column name to sort the list in ascending or descending order
- Type "tho" in the Search field to bring up variations of names containing "tho" in any name field
- Type "1898" in the Search field to filter the list to show only records with 1898 in a date field
- Type "tho 18" in the Search field to filter the list to show only records with "tho" in any name field
AND "18" in any date field
Please Note: If you cannot find the name of someone whose cremains you think may be in the possession of the hospital, check for different spellings. Information for the database was compiled from several sets of hospital records and archives. Many records are handwritten, and the hospital has more than one spelling for some patients.
Blue Mountain Recovery Center - Pendleton, Oregon
Blue Mountain Recovery Center in Pendleton was 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, 865 Tutuilla Road, Pendleton, OR 97801. The contact number is 541-276-8100.