Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society Oral History Collection

Collection

Identifier: B098

Staff Only

Abstract

In 1976 the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society (RMJHS) began conducting interviews of Denver's long-time Jewish community members in an effort to record oral histories reflecting Jewish history and culture in Colorado. The interviews were made by the former and current directors of RMJHS as well as its trained volunteers. These recordings of Jewish men and women reveal information about the history of various individuals and families, Jewish organizations, religious groups, medical and social centers, schools, and businesses in Colorado. The oral histories provide insights into the experiences of European-Jewish immigrants and Jewish settlers in Colorado during the 19th and early 20th centuries; the recordings also recount the daily activities that defined Jewish social and professional lives in Colorado.

Dates

1970s-2009
Coverage: 1859 - 2009

Creator

Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society (Organization)

Digital Repository

Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society Oral History Collection

Language of Materials

Items are predominantly in English, but recordings feature some Yiddish and Hebrew.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright not evaluated: The copyright and related rights status of this Item has not been evaluated. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. See: https://rightsstatements.org/page/CNE/1.0/?language=en

Biographical / Historical

The Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society, part of the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver, was founded in 1976. Together with the Ira M. and Peryle Hayutin Beck Memorial Archives of Rocky Mountain Jewish History, RMJHS preserves the history of Jews in the West and serves the needs of scholars and other individuals interested in historical research. The purpose of the society is to promote and sponsor historical activity that will lead to a greater appreciation and comprehension of the Jewish experience in the Rocky Mountain region. Programs of RMJHS include exhibits, lectures, film and video preservations, and field trips. Belle Marcus directed RMJHS from 1975 to 1982, and Dr. Jeanne Abrams has served as the director from 1982 to the present.

Extent

22.5 Linear Feet (34 containers)

Additional Description

Scope and Contents

RMJHS Oral Histories comprises audio and video cassettes of oral history interviews recorded by the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society. The recordings document Jewish history and culture in Colorado in the 19th and 20th century. The men and women interviewed for this collection are descendants of early Jewish pioneers in Colorado or were Jewish newcomers to the region at the beginning of the 20th century. Most of the interviewees were born between 1886 and 1927 and died in the 20th century. Many of them were founders and/or leaders of Jewish organizations, religious groups, medical and social centers, schools, and businesses in Colorado.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 18 series:; Series 1. General, 1859-2009.; Series 2. Allied Jewish Federation Project, 1912-1980.; Series 3. Beth Israel Hospital and Geriatric Center, 1919-1980.; Series 4. Beth Israel Residents, 1919-1980.; Series 5. B'nai B'rith Lodge #171 (Denver, Colo.), 1872-1978.; Series 6. Ex-Patients Home, 1920-1978.; Series 7. Jewish Community Center, 1922-1980.; Series 8. Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society, 1904-1980.; Series 9. Jewish Family and Children's Service, 1947-1979.; Series 10. National Asthma Center, 1907-1979.; Series 11. National Council of Jewish Women, 1893-1978.; Series 12. National Jewish Hospital, 1899-1978.; Series 13. Rodef Shalom, 1956-1981.; Series 14. Rose Medical Center, 1940-1978.; Series 15. Audiovisual, 1859-2004.; Series 16. Holocaust, 1938-1982.; Series 17. El Centro-Cultural Project, 2009.; Series 18. Project Records and Interview Summaries, .

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This is an artificial collection created by the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society. It does not have an accession number.

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

General

This is an artificial collection created by Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society, so it does not have an accession number or acquisition information. Extent of alternative forms (boxes of copies) is 7 LF.