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Weinstein Family Papers and Material Culture

 Collection
Identifier: B412

Abstract

Sam Weinstein was born on the west side of Denver, Colorado in 1912. He attended the University Of Denver (DU) as an undergraduate and graduated from the law school in 1932. He was an attorney in Denver for many years. Rowena Mae Akers was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1911 and her family moved to Denver in the 1920s. Rowena Mae Akers Weinstein earned a degree in social work from DU and worked for the City and County of Denver. Sam Weinstein and Rowena Mae Akers were married in 1935. Sam Weinstein served in the army infantry in the European theater from 1943 to 1945. In 1945, Sam Weinstein was a charter member and a commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Post 344 (Denver, Colorado). In 1947, Sam became a member of the “Lavender Hill Mob,” which illegally sent ammunition and guns to Palestine before Israel was recognized. Sam Weinstein's World War II army jacket and Jewish War Veterans uniform are part of the collection. The collection also contains a 1931 Kynewisbok (yearbook) that belonged to Rowena M. Akers and a folder with University of Denver memorabilia and graduation materials from 1933. An accrual brought in material culture items, including dresses, jackets, baby dresses, black swimming slippers, and household items. Five photographs were part of the accrual.

Dates

  • circa 1900-1955

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Sam Weinstein was born on the west side of Denver, Colorado in 1912. He attended the University Of Denver (DU) as an undergraduate and graduated from the law school in 1932. He was an attorney in Denver for many years. His future wife Rowena Mae Akers also attended the law school. Rowena Mae Akers was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1911. Her father Abraham Akers was a chemical engineer and the family lived in Oklahoma and Texas before moving to Denver in the 1920s. Her mother Edithe Akers was a writer, a lecturer and an advocate for women's rights. Rowena Mae Weinstein earned a degree in social work from DU in 1933 and worked for the City and County of Denver. Sam Weinstein and Rowena Mae Akers were married in 1935 and became the parents of five children: Loren, David, Robert, Joy, and Steven. Sam Weinstein served in the army infantry in the European theater from 1943 to 1945. In 1945, Sam Weinstein was a charter member and a commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Post 344 (Denver, Colorado). In 1947, Sam became a member of the “Lavender Hill Mob,” which illegally sent ammunition and guns to Palestine before Israel was recognized. Sam served on the Beth Joseph Synagogue Board and Rowena was a member of the Sisterhood. Rowena was also a member of the National Council of Jewish Women and was the youngest matron inducted into the Eastern Star (a Masonic appendant body which is open to men and women). Samuel Weinstein died in Denver in 1998 and Rowena Mae Weinstein died in 2001.

Extent

11.0 Linear Feet (9 containers)

Scope and Contents

The collection includes Sam Weinstein's World War II army jacket and Jewish War Veterans uniform. The collection also contains a 1931 Kynewisbok (DU yearbook) that belonged to Rowena M. Akers and a folder with University of Denver memorabilia and graduation materials from 1933. An accrual in September 2022 brought in material culture items, including dresses, jackets, baby dresses, black swimming slippers, and household items. Five photographs were also included in the accrual. Charles Goldberg and Dr. Dennis Battock donated their Bar Mitzvah plates that were hand-painted by Rowena Weinstein.

Creator

Source

Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
2150 East Evans Avenue
Denver CO 80208
(303) 871-3428