Beck Archives

Established in 1976 as a part of the Center for Judaic Studies, the Ira M. and Peryle Hayutin Beck Memorial Archives serves as a repository of the heritage of Jewish culture and history of the Rocky Mountain region, with an emphasis on Colorado. The items in our collections reflect the history and culture of the Colorado Jewish community from the late 1880s to the present.

Our collections contain a variety of materials including manuscripts, private papers, institutional records, oral histories, photographs, newspapers, memorabilia and documents. These materials reflect the history of organizations and businesses and the lives of individuals who have contributed to the building of Jewish life in the Rocky Mountain region. Many of the textiles and objects as well as highlights of the 3,000 photos in the Ira M. Beck Memorial Archives have been digitized for easy online viewing.

A Glimpse Into the Beck Archives

The Loewenstein Family - A portrait from the Beck Archives
The Loewenstein Family: A Story of Survival

This virtual exhibit explores the Loewenstein family's experiences as a Jewish family in Berlin, Germany, during the Nazi regime and their eventual immigration to Denver.

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Portrait of Paula Berger by Deborah Howard
Artwork from the Beck Memorial Archives

This digital exhibit features artwork by many artists who were members of the vibrant Jewish communities of Denver, past and present.

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Out-Patient Clinic of the JCRS - Photo from the Chasing the Cure exhibit of the Beck Archives
Chasing the Cure

This virtual exhibit explores how Colorado's small Jewish community became the first to aid people who came to Colorado seeking a cure for tuberculosis.

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portraits on the wall

History of the Beck Archives

The Ira M. Beck Memorial Archives (now the Ira M. and Peryle Hayutin Beck Memorial Archives) was established in 1976 in memory of Ira M. Beck, a prominent Denver businessman devoted to cultural arts and Jewish communal life. The archives formally became a part of DU's Special Collections and Archives in 1992, and is now one of the premier repositories of Jewish history in the American West. The Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society draws on the rich collections in the Beck Archives to illuminate the American Jewish experience. 

campus building

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Contact

Special Collections at the University of Denver

Room 101, the lower level of the Anderson Academic Commons

Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.