National Council of Jewish Women, Denver Section Records

Collection

Identifier: B094

Staff Only

Abstract

The National Council of Jewish Women, Denver Section (NCJW) was a women's philanthropic organization founded by Carrie Benjamin in October 1893 to serve the Denver, Colorado Jewish community. Most of the early members were also members of Temple Emanuel in Denver and the collection details the contributions of women to social causes in Denver. Education was an early priority of the Denver Section and classes were held to serve Eastern European Jewish immigrants in the West Colfax area of Denver. The Council established a settlement house in West Denver for Jewish boys, worked with disabled children and initiated the Children's Traveling Theatre. During World War II, the Council was involved in the resettlement of Jewish refugees in Denver. In 1938 the Council opened a thrift shop at 27th Street and Welton Street in the Five Points area of Denver. The records include board of director meeting minutes, lists of officers and board members, correspondence, financial records, newspaper clippings, newsletters, bulletins, yearbooks, publications, invitations, scrapbooks and oral history audiocassette tapes.

Dates

1894-2018

Creator

National Council of Jewish Women. Denver Section (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

Susan B. Anthony was determined that women should participate in the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. Anthony assigned Hannah G. Solomon the task of organizing a group of Jewish women to participate in the Fair. Solomon invited 90 Jewish women to attend the events in Chicago. During discussions at the the Parliament of Religions of the Chicago World's Fair, Solomon convinced her Jewish colleagues of the need for a national organization, and so began the National Council of Jewish Women. Among the women attending the session was Carrie Benjamin, who returned home to Denver, Colorado and organized the Council's Denver section in October 1893. Thirty-nine women met at Temple Emanuel and elected Carrie Benjamin the first president.

Extent

8.0 Linear Feet (9 containers) : Collection contains nine (9) boxes.

Additional Description

Scope and Contents

The National Council of Jewish Women, Denver Section Records date from 1894 to 2018 and include Board of Director meeting minutes, lists of officers and board members, correspondence, financial records, newspaper clippings, newsletters, bulletins, yearbooks, invitations, publications, scrapbooks, event materials, as well as essays and reports providing historical background information on NCJW and the Denver Section. The records also include oral history audiocassette tapes. The materials document the activities of a Jewish women's organization in Denver and the contributions of the women to social causes in Colorado.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in seven series: 1. Minutes and Administrative Records, 1898-2018. 2. Financial and Membership Records, 1925-2017. 3. Publications, Newsletters, and Yearbooks 1898-2017. 4. Correspondence, 1916-2010. 5. Historical Background Material, 1916-2010. 6. Programs and Events, 1928-2018. 7. Scrapbooks, Binders, Photographs, and Newspaper Clippings, 1902-2018.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of National Council of Jewish Women, Denver Section, December 5, 1979.

New accrual: gift of NCJW Denver Section past president Charlene Spiegelman, April 29, 2019.

Accruals

Further accruals are expected. New accrual April 2019.

Related Materials

Related materials providing oral histories about the NCJW may be found in the RMJHS Oral History Collection, B089 ||Related materials may be found in the Beck Archives Collection on Fannie Eller Lorber, B272.