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Nurse taking temperatures, ca. 1890
National Jewish Hospital Building, ca. 1890
Female juvenile patients playing at National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, ca. 1907
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Collection
Overview
Creator: National Jewish Hospital
Title: National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives' Records
Inclusive Dates: 1899-2000
Size: 230 linear ft., 125 boxes plus 180 oversize items
Processed By: Dr. Jeanne Abrams; Web version prepared by Thyria K. Wilson, 2005
Abstract
"The fame of Colorado's capitol city, nestling in a valley flooded with sunshine, protected from the extreme heat and cold, attracted not only the ambitious searcher for wealth, but also the enfeebled seeker of health." (Rabbi William Friedman, 1923). For many years Denver faced a serious social problem when hundreds of people severely ill with tuberculosis, also known as the “White Plague” converged on the city, attracted by the reputation Denver had already acquired as the “world's sanatorium.” Because of the onslaught of consumptives, beds for patients in city and state general hospitals were so scarce that the poor were frequently left to their own devices, often dying in the streets.
In 1899, the Jewish community, propelled by the concept of Gemilas Chasodim (acts of kindness), erected National Jewish Hospital (NJH), the first sanatorium in Denver for tuberculosis victims. With the financial assistance of the International Order of B'nai B'rith, the hospital opened its doors to Jews and gentiles alike. In accordance with contemporary wisdom, the NJH adopted a program that emphasized the benefits of fresh air, good nutrition and rest. Many early prominent physicians were associated with the hospital, including Dr. Saling Simon, Dr. Robert Levy, and Dr. John Elsner.
Scope and Content
The collection includes correspondence, patient records, minutes, reports, and objects from 1899 through 1990. The NJH records contain revealing documentation of the seekers of health such as patient demographics and characteristics and detailed information regarding the early treatment of tuberculosis.
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