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Spivak, C. D. (Charles D.), 1861-1927

 Person

Biography

A Jewish Immigrant from Tsarist Russia, Spivak pursued medicine out of a desire to be of service to humanity. In 1896, when his wife Jennie showed signs of incipient tuberculosis, Spivak moved their young family to Denver to take advantage of Colorado’s reputation as the World’s Sanatorium. Spivak's concern for the indignant consumptives he saw flooding into the state led to his founding the Jewish Consumptives’ Relief Society (JCRS), a sanatorium dedicated to the care of all, even those in the advanced stages of TB. Spivak also ensured that the primarily Eastern European Jewish patients were cared for in an environment that respected their culture- unlike many such institutions, the JCRS featured a kosher kitchen and observed the Jewish Sabbath and holidays. Dr. Spivak was also an associate professor of medicine at the University of Denver from 1896-1901.

Citation:
Leḳsiḳon fun der nayer Yidisher liṭeraṭur, 1965 (Spiṿaḳ, Ḥayim; d. 10-16-1927; b. as Ḥayim-Ḥayḳl Spiṿaḳoṿsḳi; d. in Denver, Colorado) Yehoash. Idish ṿerṭerbukh, 1926: t.p. (Dr. Ḥayim Spiṿaḳ) t.p. verso (Dr. C. D. Spivak [in rom.]) Who's who in American Jewry, 1926 (Spivak, Charles; physician, author; b. 12-25-1861, Krementschug, Russia).

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

A Legacy of Healing: Early Colorado Jews in Medicine, 2005

 Item
Identifier: B230.03.0023.00004
Abstract

Brief biographies of Jewish men and women who contributed to medicine, the Jewish community, and Colorado. Contains historical photographs and interviews with people who knew some of the early key figures.

Dates: 2005

Dr. Charles Spivak and Jennie Charsky in Philadelphia, 1892 September

 Item
Identifier: B250.01.0003.00001
Abstract Dr. Charles David Spivak and his fiancee, Jennie Charsky, pose for a studio photograph in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in September 1892. The picture was taken the day before Jennie left to attend college at Cornell University. Dr. Charles Spivak was the longtime secretary of the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society (JCRS). After the couple moved to Colorado in 1896, Jennie completed her college degree at the University of Denver. She later taught Russian language classes at the University for...
Dates: 1892 September