A few days before she left Morningside, Dr. Henry Coe, the president of the Sanitarium Company, informed the Department of the Interior of her release. In the letter, he described her as, “strong, vigorous, active, cleanly, and the most capable Eskimo woman I ever saw.” He goes on to say that she will be leaving with a baby named Mary McLoshkin (apparently born at Morningside?) who she adopted. You can read the discharge letter (27) here.

Coe notes that Katharine was in a photo with him and a Department of the Interior inspector (above, from the Library of Congress). He also wrote that she made fine baskets. I believe that this is a photo of one of her baskets. The caption under the 1916 photo (from the National Archives II) reads, “Made by an Alaska Native who was returned by Morningside to the island of Attu, 4000 miles distant.”

Dr. Coe ends the letter with, “I am going to write up her story, one of these days. It is stranger than fiction.” I wish he had. I’ve checked many sources but can find nothing on Katharine after her discharge from Morningside. Please leave a comment if you know more about her or her family.

The pictures below show how the hospital changed as it morphed into Morningside Hospital, going from private-pay patients to government contract supported care of Alaskans. These images are from an October, 1909 investigation report on the care of Alaskan patients at Crystal Springs Sanitarium. The report, written by Edward W. Dixon, is from US Department of the Interior records at the National Archives II in College Station, MD. You can read the full report and see additional photos here – 1909 Dixon Inspection Report (48).

The changes in the architecture are striking.

The Massachusetts Building (Crystal Springs Sanitarium) with the Nurses Cottage (to the left).

Morningside Asylum building, where Alaskan patients were housed.

The patient database is still our top priority. We expect the receive funding (through a partnership of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and Access Alaska) before the end of the summer

These two photos, which are from the Oregon Historical Society, were not dated but appear to be from the 1920s.

The caption on the photo above is an account of the Christmas Festivities at Morningside from a Portland newspaper. “Morningside Hospital provided three Christmas trees for the inmates. Natives helped to provide the entertainment which was held in the Assembly room of the new Parole House. Gifts were provided for all the patients in the institution by Dr. Coe, the Chief Officer. After the exercises in the main hall the women retired to their own buildings where trees awaited them, while the men had their remembrances in the assembly room.”

The founder of Morningside Hospital, Dr. Henry Waldo Coe, is standing to the right of the Christmas tree.

The photo above appears to be from the early to mid-1920s. Children were first admitted to Morningside at the end of 1922 or early 1923.

The “Program of Entertainment” for the 1922 Christmas Party included:

• Overture by the Orchestra
• Song by Mrs. Larsen, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Carter
• Address by Mr. Henry Ray
• Jig and Monologue by Mr. Nathan Swarthout
• Vocal Solo by Mr. Carter, Supported by the Orchestra
• A Response by Mr. Wayne W. Coe, Speaking for the Management
• A Waltz – Men Employees Dancing with Women Patients and Men Patients Dancing with Women Patients
• A March by the Orchestra while participants and other file out
• Distribution of Presents to Men at Main Building
• Distribution of Presents to Women Patients and Employees at the Women’s Cottage
• Mr. Earl Dowd Acting as Santa Claus

The menu for the Christmas Dinner was:

• Oyster Stew
• Celery and Olives
• Roast Turkey and Dressing
• Mashed Potatoes
• Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Hot Rolls
• Cranberry Jelly
• Mince Pie – Fruit cake
• Coffee, Tea, Milk
• Oranges, Apples, Nuts and Candy

A picture showing the Morningside Hospital era 1925

Morningside Hospital was located on the current site of Mall 205, a community shopping center off Interstate 205 in East Portland.