On May 28 I wrote about a new video on Roots Television called "Unclaimed Persons." (See http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/05/unclaimed-perso.html.) The video describes the efforts to find the families of deceased individuals. The result was so successful that a new group is being formed to allow genealogists to use their people finding skills to find relatives of other deceased individuals. The following announcement was written by Roots Television:
Looking for a Few Good Sleuths
June 11, 2008When RootsTelevision.com launched Unclaimed Persons this month, the hope was to bring attention to a virtually unknown epidemic, but also offer a potential solution. The epidemic? Literally unclaimed persons. Many of us are familiar with John and Jane Does, but very few are aware of the struggles of coroners' offices across the country to find the next of kin for the ever-growing number of people who are identified, but have no one to claim them. The solution? An unlikely teaming of coroners and genealogists working together to find the families of the unclaimed.
From the day the show launched, sympathetic and skilled genealogists started to tackle the unsolved case of John Finch that ended the Unclaimed Persons episode. One of them was well-known professional genealogist and author, Kimberly Powell. Thanks to Kimberly's genealogical detective skills, a case that had been open since 1999 was solved in just six days.
Are you interested in helping solve Unclaimed Persons cases? Join the Unclaimed Persons group on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24101365049) to see our latest cases and learn how your research can help reunite families (those who are new to Facebook will need to register). Visit the discussion board to see our latest cases and to learn more about the process and guidelines for being a part of the project. We would be very grateful if you would join in the discussions here (believe me, we welcome your feedback and ideas!) and tell other folks about this group, the show -- and most importantly of all -- the problem.
Even if we don't crack every case, we like to think that just being aware of the problem will make at least a few people pick up the phone and call home -- even if they haven't done so in decades.
By the way, if you're new to Facebook and looking for your first "friends," please feel free to add Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak as one.
Excellent! For those unfamiliar with Kimberly Powell, she has left an archival legacy on About.com. She has shared many valuable techniques and methods of research there.
Happy Dae.
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com
Posted by: Dae Powell | June 12, 2008 at 07:35 AM
I think this is wonderful. The families of the deceased and missing need to know where their loved ones are; and the deceased need their recognition. I for one will be registering! Thanks for the update!
Posted by: Peggie S | June 12, 2008 at 12:49 PM
How does one become part of the search (not a searcher). I have not been able to find any records about my grandfather who disappeared sometime in the early 1950's from the Mattapan State Hospsital in Massachusetts. The hospital said he walked out and they don't know where he went. He did not speak English (only Sicilian) and he could not read nor write. I don't even know if they used John or Giovanni as his first name. I would love to find out what happened to him but the hospital was closed in the 1980's. Comments, suggestions, help???
Posted by: Mariann | June 12, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Megan should be congratulated for jumping on the Forensic Genealogy bandwagon! This is totally fantastic!!! I suggest that all of her participants pick up a copy of my Forensic Genealogy book to get some great ideas on how to look at old materials with new eyes. (www.forensicgenealogy.info). They will find it an asset for the kind of work they need to do. Many thanks to Dick for reviewing the book when it first came out.
http://eogn.typepad.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2005/06/forensic_geneal.html. If you are one of her investigators, please feel welcome to contact me to brainstorm if you get stuck.
Megan's team will be interested in the new website we are launching featuring many top forensic identification cases we've been involved in, including Amelia Earhart and the Unknown Child on the Titanic. (Yes, that Amelia Earhart.) Watch for media converage about the work we did in identifying of the remains in Northwest Flight 4422. Hey Megan - good luck with the project....and I'm available for interviews! Win win all around. Colleen
Posted by: Colleen Fitzpatrick | June 12, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Megan should be congratulated for jumping on the Forensic Genealogy bandwagon! This is totally fantastic!!! I suggest that all of her participants pick up a copy of my Forensic Genealogy book to get some great ideas on how to look at old materials with new eyes. (www.forensicgenealogy.info). They will find it an asset for the kind of work they need to do. Many thanks to Dick for reviewing the book when it first came out.
http://eogn.typepad.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2005/06/forensic_geneal.html. If you are one of her investigators, please feel welcome to contact me to brainstorm if you get stuck.
We'll be launching a new website featuring many top forensic identification cases we've been involved in, including Amelia Earhart and the Unknown Child on the Titanic. (Yes, that Amelia Earhart.) Watch for media converage about the work we did in identifying of the remains in Northwest Flight 4422. Hey Megan - good luck with the project....and I'm available for interviews! Win win all around. Colleen
Posted by: Colleen Fitzpatrick | June 12, 2008 at 09:15 PM
Megan should be congratulated for jumping on the Forensic Genealogy bandwagon! This is totally fantastic!!! I suggest that all of her participants pick up a copy of my Forensic Genealogy book to get some great ideas on how to look at old materials with new eyes. (www.forensicgenealogy.info). They will find it an asset for the kind of work they need to do. Many thanks to Dick for reviewing the book when it first came out.
http://eogn.typepad.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2005/06/forensic_geneal.html. If you are one of her investigators, please feel welcome to contact me to brainstorm if you get stuck.
We'll be launching a new website featuring many top forensic identification cases we've been involved in, including Amelia Earhart and the Unknown Child on the Titanic. (Yes, that Amelia Earhart.) Watch for media converage about the work we did in identifying of the remains in Northwest Flight 4422. Hey Megan - good luck with the project....and I'm available for interviews! Giving PR to forensic genealogy like this is a win win all around. Colleen
Posted by: Colleen Fitzpatrick | June 12, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Megan should be congratulated for jumping on the Forensic Genealogy bandwagon! This is totally fantastic!!! I suggest that all of her participants pick up a copy of my Forensic Genealogy book to get some great ideas on how to look at old materials with new eyes. (www.forensicgenealogy.info). They will find it an asset for the kind of work they need to do. Many thanks to Dick for reviewing the book when it first came out.
http://eogn.typepad.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2005/06/forensic_geneal.html. If you are one of her investigators, please feel welcome to contact me to brainstorm if you get stuck.
We'll be launching a new website featuring many top forensic identification cases we've been involved in, including Amelia Earhart and the Unknown Child on the Titanic. (Yes, that Amelia Earhart.) Watch for media converage about the work we did in identifying of the remains in Northwest Flight 4422. Hey Megan - good luck with the project....and I'm available for interviews! Win win all around. Colleen
Posted by: Colleen Fitzpatrick | June 12, 2008 at 09:20 PM
This message is for Mariann abovementioned. The Department of Human Services should hold the records of the former Mattapan State Hospital. Many Social Service Records were turned over to the Archives of the University of Massachusetts at Dorchester. Some may still be restricted access but for a granddaughter you should be able to get access. They may contain a photograph of the person and I'd like to know if a police report was filed and the outcome of their investigation. Mattapan State Hospital sat on a five or seven acre site in a densely wooded area that backed up to Franklin Park Zoo which is over 20 acres. The area west and south of the hospital was literally uninhabited during the time that the hospital was open.
David T. Robertson - Professional Genealogist, APG Member
robertson.d@rcn.com
Posted by: David T. Robertson | June 13, 2008 at 11:25 AM
David,
Thank you for that information. I will call them today and see what they can tell me. As far as a police report is concerned, I don't know. My grandmother, father and uncle (wife and 2 sons)have all past away. My mother who is 87 said she doesn't remember anything except that the hospital told my grandmother that my grandfather walked out of the hospital and they could not find him. My mother is basing the timeframe on the fact that she thinks my sister and I were born but my brother was not. My sister was born in 1948 and my brother in 1952.
Posted by: Mariann | June 13, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Thank you so much for sharing such wonderful group... :)
Posted by: Marco | June 21, 2008 at 08:11 AM