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 34 Collections and/or Records:
Isidor Bronfin, M.D. Papers
John Elsner, M.D. Papers
Milton Anfenger Entry in Dr. Pepy's Pages, 1951 November-1952 November
National Jewish Hospital Newsletter Covers, between 1929-1939
Three covers of the NJH newsletter. From January, 1931 "Dedicated to Mrs. Seraphine Pisko." From May, 1929 "Nature's Sovereign Remedy by I. D. Bronfin." From May, 1939 a picture of two patients with a caption "Convalescents, The bloom of health is on their cheeks again."
National Jewish Hospital Records
Newspaper Clippings, 1954-1955
Newspapaer clippings on National Jewish Hospital and medical treatments for tuberculosis.
NJH First Building, 1907
The first building of NJH with people sitting on the porch and framed with the caption "First Hospital."
Patient Distribution Map, 1949
Map of the United States with numbers in each state of the number of patients from that state. In the middle is a photograph of a nurse with three children, one in a wheelchair, in front of the B'nai B'rith Building.
Physicians Training at National Jewish Hospital, 1961
A group of unidentified physicians receiving training at National Jewish Hospital. One physician appears to be leading the training and is standing in the front of the room examining chest x-rays.