Altman Family Papers

The families who settled in the failed agricultural colony of Cotopaxi included the Shames and Altman families. A Shames daughter, Yente, was married to Joe Washer who died soon after leaving Cotopaxi. Yente later married Moshe Yosef Altman. The Altman and Prezant family members were among the incorporators of Congregation Zera Abraham. In fact, the congregation was first organized at the home of Moses Joseph and Annie Shames Altman on West Colfax Avenue in 1887. In 1907, Moses and Annie Shames Altman, as they became known, purchased a large farm located on the land which is today Denver International Airport, and family members continued to own the working farm until the 1960s. Annie had arrived as a young bride in Cotopaxi and had no children when her first husband Joe Washer died. Her second marriage to Moses Joseph Altman produced five children, Ben, Rose Altman Boxer, Eva Altman Handler, Esther Altman Smookler and Louis Altman. Collection contains family photographs and information related to the Altman Family from 1894 through 2005, photographs of the farm, and copies of two naturalization certificates.