Lucy Pitka McCormick’s family recently honored her life in a traditional Native Alaskan ceremony. They cooked a variety of traditional foods and prepared a special dessert to feed her spirit as they prayed. However, McCormick died in 1931 and her remains were only recently identified and returned to her family. McCormick was one of many Alaskans sent to a hospital in Portland, Oregon, due to mental illness or developmental disabilities between 1904 and the 1960s. Many of them never left, leading to the creation of the Lost Alaskans group.
Volunteers in Fairbanks and Portland have been working for over 15 years to identify those who were committed to the hospital and buried in Portland cemeteries. They faced challenges due to lost records and lack of documentation from territorial officials. The volunteers, including former officials and residents, combed through various archives in search of any information related to those who were sent to the hospital. A database was created to help families find information about their lost loved ones, including when they were committed, their fate, and burial location.
The hospital, founded in the late 19th century by Dr. Henry Waldo Coe, operated under different names but later became known as Morningside. It received a government contract to care for mentally ill Alaskans in 1904 but came under public scrutiny by the 1950s. The treatment of its residents led to public outrage and eventually, the hospital’s closure in 1968. While the hospital had a variety of patients, the volunteers focused on Alaskans, including Lucy McCormick, who was admitted after a diagnosis from her aunt, Helen Callahan.
Eric Cordingley played a key role in documenting burial sites and obtaining death certificates of patients at Morningside. He created databases to help families find their lost loved ones, including virtual cemeteries for Alaska Natives, other patients, and Alaska children who died at another institution. Cordingley identified Lucy McCormick’s grave marker and informed her family, leading to her disinterment and eventual return to Alaska for a proper burial. Despite the challenges faced in identifying these lost individuals, families like McCormick’s are grateful to bring their loved ones home for peace.
Lucy McCormick’s journey back to her birthplace in the village of Rampart was a special moment for her family. They carried out a ceremony to honor her spirit and laid her to rest overlooking the village and the river. McCormick’s story is one of many that volunteers are working hard to uncover and bring closure to families who have been affected by the loss of loved ones to mental health institutions in the past. The volunteers’ dedication to revealing the identity and stories of the Lost Alaskans is a testament to their commitment to honoring those who were forgotten for many years.
The emotional journey of Lucy McCormick’s family reflects the impact on families of the Lost Alaskans. The volunteers’ efforts to uncover the stories of those who were committed to Morningside highlight the importance of remembering and honoring those who were forgotten. The database they created serves as a valuable resource for families searching for information about their long-lost relatives. Through their investigation and dedication to bringing these individuals home, the volunteers are providing closure and peace to families who have been affected by the legacy of the Lost Alaskans for generations.
