Decades-long search reveals fate of Lost Alaskans committed to Oregon mental hospital

Volunteers uncover identities and final resting places of thousands sent to Morningside Hospital, bringing closure to families.

About 5,500 Alaskans, deemed 'really and truly insane', were committed to Morningside Hospital in Portland, Oregon, from 1904 to the 1960s.
Volunteers in Fairbanks and Portland have identified many of the Lost Alaskans, returning some to Alaska for proper burials.
New database launched to help families find long-lost relatives among those sent to Morningside, revealing when and why they were committed.
The search for the Lost Alaskans has spanned over 15 years, involving history detectives combing through archives and records.
Morningside Hospital's treatment of residents came under scrutiny by the 1950s, leading to its closure in 1968.