American Medical Center (Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society)

Collection

Identifier: Jewish Consumptives'

Scope and Content Note

Researchers wanting a general history of the American Medical Center and its Hartford auxiliaries will find sufficient information here for a short paper. Although there is insufficient material for more in-depth research, two items in the collection may be of interest to advanced researchers. One is the description of women's activities during the World War II years, found in the Hartford Junior League/Historical Highlights folder. Another is the minutes for the 1/12/1972 meeting of the West Hartford Chapter where the procedures for a quota system, so common in earlier women's fundraising efforts, are described in detail.

Dates

Creation: 1950-1999

Full Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society was founded in 1904. By the end of that year, the group had built a facility just outside of Denver consisting of one small building and six tents. The hospital accepted indigent tubercular patients of all creeds, providing free treatment. The JCRS also provided patients with training in both vocational and recreational activities. In later years, the name of the organization changed to National Jewish Hospital, and eventually to American Medical Center at Denver. The Center expanded its mission to include the treatment and care of patients with advanced cancer.

The first local fundraising chapter of the Society was the District Number One chapter, centered in Hartford and responsible for all of Connecticut and southern Massachusetts. The date of District Number One’s founding is not known, but it was probably 1921. The Hartford League, a women's auxiliary, was founded in April, 1940. The West Hartford Chapter was founded in 1954. In a 1954 listing, there was also a JCRS Men's Group and a Hartford Ladies' Auxiliary; these may have been an outgrowth of the District One chapter, but it is not known for certain. The West Hartford Chapter’s named changed in 1978 to the Sarah L. Freedman Chapter.