Behind The Screen: Unclaimed (Epilogue)

Join Ancestry's Lisa Elzey and volunteer genealogist Phyllis Zegers as they peel back the curtain and explore what went into making "Unclaimed". An Oregon resident and key researcher in the making of the podcast, Phyllis Zegers brings new insight into the history of Oregon State Hospital's "Room of Forgotten Souls", and more in this special epilogue. You can also watch the video version of this episode on Ancestry's YouTube channel now. 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. “Unclaimed” delves into these untold stories using Ancestry's tools, archival records, and genealogy research with host Amy Standen. Learn about newfound siblings, the mystery of a famous poet's missing matriarch, and life at OSH through medical records and descendant accounts. The series reveals how Ancestry is uncovering family secrets and reuniting forgotten ashes with modern-day descendants.