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Spivak Family Papers and Art

 Collection
Identifier: B250

Abstract

Dr. Charles Spivak was born in Russia in 1861 and died in Denver, Colorado in 1927. He arrived in New York City in 1882 and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1893, Charles Spivak married Jennie Charsky. Because of Jennie's poor health the Spivaks moved to Denver in 1896. Dr. Spivak was a co-founder of the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society (JCRS) and was the executive secretary from 1904 until 1927. Haim David Spivak, son of Dr. Charles and Jennie Spivak, was an artist in Denver, Colorado. David Spivak was born in Philadelphia November 19, 1893 and died in Denver November 23, 1932. The collection has biographical material, correspondence and memorials to Dr. Spivak. Articles written by Dr. Spivak and art by David Spivak are also in the collection. It also contains a Yiddish-Hebrew dictionary he wrote with Yehoash.

Dates

  • 1861-2010

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection is predominately in English; some materials are in Hebrew and Yiddish, including the Hebrew-Yiddish dictionary, and there is a French grammer book.

Biographical / Historical

Charles David Spivak was born in Russia in 1861 and died in Denver in 1927. Spivak became a revolutionary Socialist in his youth and had to flee Russia to avoid being arrested by the Russian secret police. He arrived in New York City in 1882 and took various jobs until he learned English. He worked as a day laborer in New York, a factory worker in Maine, and as typesetter on the "Jewish Messenger." In 1890 he graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia with honors, and by 1895 he was Chief of Staff of the Philadelphia Polyclinics in Gastro-Internal diseases. In 1893 Charles Spivak married Jennie Charsky and they had three children: David, Deena, and Ruth. Jennie Charsky was born in Russia in 1871 and briefly studied law at Cornell before graduating from the University of Denver. Because of Jennie's poor health, which was probably caused by incipient tuberculosis, the Spivaks moved to Denver in 1896. Dr. Spivak served as a Professor at the University of Denver from 1896 through 1901 in the Medical School. Jennie was a Russian language instructor at the University from 1903 until 1913. Charles Spivak was a co-founder of the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society (JCRS) and was the executive secretary from 1904 until 1927. Jennie Spivak was listed as one of the three formal incorporaters of the JCRS. Charles Spivak was involved in every aspect of the JCRS and was affectionately known as "Papa Spivak." In addition to writing articles for the JCRS publication, "The Sanatorium," he co-authored a well known Yiddish dictionary with Yiddish poet, Yehoash. In 1898 Spivak became founding editor and publisher of the journal Medical Libraries, and wrote for the "Denver Jewish News" from 1915 to 1918. Charles and Jennie Spivak's son Haim David Spivak was born November 19, 1893 in Philadelphia and died in Denver November 23, 1932. He studied at the University of Denver, the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois and the Art Students League, New York. He was one of three co-founders of the Denver Artists Guild, now the Colorado Artists Guild.

Extent

9.25 Linear Feet (7 containers) : Standard record box, legal document box, half letter document box, poster box, pamphlet box, and a wrapped object 89 x 76.5 x 2.5 inches.

Scope and Contents

The collection materials include biographical information on Dr. Charles and Jennie Spivak, a family tree chart, a Yiddish dictionary written by Dr. C. D. Spivak and Soloman Bloomgarden (Yehoash), correspondence and articles written by Charles Spivak. The collection also includes memorials to Charles Spivak, including the special memorial issue of the JCRS publication, "The Sanatorium." The collection also contains art by H. David Spivak, son of Charles and Jennie Spivak, including an oil painting, "The Ten Commandments" and note cards drawn by Daniel Spivak.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into three series: 1. Spivak Family, 1890-2010. 2. JCRS, 1907-2007. 3. Art, 1927-2007. __Books were cataloged and transferred to Rare Books, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries.

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

Related Materials

Related collections include the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society Records, B002, and the Spivak Institute Records, B251. ||Related materials can be found in the Beck Archives Photograph Collection, B063, the Beck Archives Microfilm and Microforms Collection, B117, and the RMJHS Oral Histories, B098.

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:
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Denver CO 80208
(303) 871-3428