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National Jewish Health (U.S.)

 Organization

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 1395 Collections and/or Records:

Degen, Louis - Trustee, 1963-1976

 File
Identifier: B005.01.0020.0019
Abstract

correspondence related to building programs and trustee Louis Degen

Dates: 1963-1976

Delegation WD, 1970 September 27-30

 File
Identifier: B005.01.0023.0008
Abstract

Correspondence related to delegation in the Women's Division

Dates: 1970 September 27-30

Denver Benefit Dinner, 1978 January 26

 File
Identifier: B005.01.0021.0010
Abstract

Correspondence related to the Denver Benefit Dinner, January 26 1978

Dates: 1978 January 26

Denver Benefit Dinner, 1976 January 29

 File
Identifier: B005.01.0021.0012
Abstract

Correspondence related to the Denver Benefit Dinner, 1976

Dates: 1976 January 29

Denver Branch Federal Reserve Bank, 1971-1972

 File
Identifier: B005.01.0026.0016
Abstract

Correspondence related to the Denver Branch Federal Reserve Bank

Dates: 1971-1972

Denver Women's Committee, 1965

 File
Identifier: B005.01.0011.0012
Abstract

Materials related to the Denver Women's Committee

Dates: 1965

Denver Women's Division, 1970

 File
Identifier: B005.01.0012.0023
Scope and Contents From the Collection:

The collection includes annual reports, correspondence, limited patient records, meeting minutes, financial statements, reports, scrapbooks, photographs, sound discs, and objects from 1899 to 2009. The items reveal patient demographics and characteristics as well as detailed information regarding the early treatment of tuberculosis.

Dates: 1970

Denver Women's Division 1968 Benefit ''Won Ton of Fon'', 1968

 File
Identifier: B005.01.0009.0026
Abstract

Memorandums regarding the 1968 benefit, ticket prices, benefit policies

Dates: 1968

Digital Essays, February 2020

 Item
Identifier: B423.00001
Scope and Contents From the Collection:

Bernard S. Fellner wrote “The Confessions and Convictions of a Conscientight about his nearly 18 years as the chief financial officer of National Jewish Hospital from 1980-1997. There are 50 vignettes in the digitized paper where he tells about things he did right and things he did wrong as CFO at NJH. The paper is 55 pages long.

Dates: February 2020

Direct Mail Samples (1 of 2), 1980-1983

 File
Identifier: B005.01.0027.0021
Abstract

Direct mail samples from 1980 to 1983, samples of mailings sent out by NJH

Dates: 1980-1983