National Jewish Hospital (U.S.)
Dates
- Usage: 1926 - 1964
Biography
In the late nineteenth century, Denver, Colorado, faced a severe social problem when hundreds of people severely ill with tuberculosis converged on the city, attracted by the reputation Denver had already acquired as the "world's sanatorium." Because of the onslaught of consumptives, beds for patients in city and state general hospitals were so scarce that the poor were frequently left to their own devices, often dying in the streets. One of the first people to conceive of a free hospital for the indigent tuberculosis victims in Denver was Frances Wisebart Jacobs. She launched a relentless campaign to arouse public awareness on behalf of the indigent consumptives, seeking the support of business people and political leaders to raise funds for a new hospital. Jacobs found an ally in a young rabbi, William Sterne Friedman. Rabbi Friedman enlisted the financial support of some of the trustees of his congregation, Temple Emanuel, insisting that concern for the sick and indigent had always been a vital tenet of Jewish tradition. The original hospital, the Frances Jacobs Hospital, was not completed because of the silver panic of 1893. The hospital received financial assistance from the International Order of B'nai B'rith. This vital support came mainly through the efforts of Louis Anfenger, a local Jewish citizen who was also a founder of both Temple Emanuel and the Denver chapter of B'nai B'rith. National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives (NJH) opened its doors to Jews and gentiles alike in 1899 as the first sanatorium in Denver for tuberculosis victims. Samuel Grabfelder of Louisville, Kentucky served as president from 1899-1920; Seraphine Pisko was executive secretary (Director) from 1911-1938. Some of the physicians associated with the hospital included Dr. Saling Simon, Dr. Robert Levy, and Dr. John Elsner. The NJH adopted a program that emphasized the benefits of fresh air, proper nutrition, and rest.
As a result of national support, NJH introduced a revolutionary concept to tuberculosis treatment by offering free services to indigent consumptives. The motto was, "None can pay who enter, and None who enter can pay." Only patients with incipient tuberculosis, where treatment could be most effective, were to be admitted to NJH, and the length of stay was limited to six months. These conditions reflect the medical opinion of the time and the scarcity of hospital beds for consumptives. It was commonly thought that attempting to treat advanced cases only wasted time and money that could be more profitably directed toward patients who had a good chance of recovery. National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives changed its name several times, subsequently being known as National Jewish Hospital (1925-1964) and later becoming National Jewish Hospital and Research Center (1965-1977), National Jewish Hospital/National Asthma Center (after merging with National Asthma Center in 1978), and National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine (1986-1996). In 1997, the organization changed its name to the National Jewish Medical and Research Center and focused on lung, allergic and immune diseases. It was renamed National Jewish Health in July 2008. The facility continues to treat patients from throughout the country, using cutting-edge medicine and research.
Found in 17 Collections and/or Records:
Bird's-Eye-View of National Jewish Hospital, between 1899-1920
Hand drawn view of the National Jewish Hospital campus on Colorado and Colfax, Denver, Colorado.
Box 185 (PR, Physicians and Staff), 1905-2000
13 folders with historic documents out of 18 folders.
Box 201 (Biographies), 1899-2009
Inactive biographies, A-F Inactive Biographies, A-F
Dr. Allan Hurst, 1951
Dr. Hurst specialized in tuberculosis at National Jewish Hospital in Denver. In 1950, he was invited by the Workers' Sick Fund (Histadrut) to spend four weeks in Israel studying the problem of tuberculosis. He visited hospitals and clinics throughout the country, studied the immigrant problem, and conferred with groups handling tuberculosis patients.
Dr. Emanuel Friedman, 1908
Portrait of Dr. Emanuel Friedman, a pediatrician in Denver, Colorado.
Dr. Emanuel Friedman Papers
Dr. Haskell Cohen, c.1955
One (1) 8x10 black and white photograph of Dr. Haskell Cohen, chairman of the medical advisory board of National Jewish Health.
Dr. Maurice Cohen, c.1955
One (1) black and white 8x10 photograph of Dr. Maurice Cohen National Jewish Hospital Chief Research Chemist in what appears to be his lab doing experiments. One (1) black and white large format negative of same photo.