A Curriculum Guide

Early History of Jews in Colorado

Curriculum Guide Page 38

People

Frances Wisebart Jacobs
Wife of Abraham Jacobs, she was known as “Mother of Charities” for her work in Denver. She was a founder of the Community Chest and pioneered efforts to establish a tubercular sanatorium, which became the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives in 1899.

Sam and Harry Jaffe
Two brothers in Trinidad who led the first Jewish religious services in the area in 1872. There were at least ten Jewish men in the community that year.

Rabbi C.E.H. Kauvar
Served as the religious leader of BMH Congregation from 1902 until 1952. He was a major supporter of the Jewish Consumptives’ Relief Society and worked with the courts on problems of juvenile delinquency.

David Kline
He arrived in Denver, became a founder of the Jewish community and became a prominent businessman and public benefactor.

Fannie Lorber
She was a founder and first president of the Denver Sheltering Home in 1907. She continued as president of that agency until 1958. The institution changed its name to National Home for Asthmatic Children and later merged with the National Jewish Hospital.

Wolfe Londoner
He arrived in Denver in 1860 and took office in 1889 as Denver’s only Jewish mayor.

Leopold Mayer
One of the early pioneers to Denver, he arrived in May of 1859. He became a leader of the Jewish community and was elected Councilman from 1861 to 1864.

Otto Mears
He was a friend of Chief Ouray and successfully negotiated the movement of Utes to the Uinta Reservation in Utah. In 187 he built the Toll Road system across Marshall Pass.

Burton and Charles Meyers
In 1864, these two brothers ran one of the first hotels and saloons in Colorado Springs.

Julius Mitchell
At the age of 47, he came to Colorado as a ‘59er and opened a grocery store called the “Bee Hive.” The store became a central meeting place for the miners to buy supplies and catch up on news.

Seraphine Pisko
A leading figure in settlement and charity work at the turn of the century, she served as both Executive Secretary and Vice President of the National Jewish Hospital from 1911-1942.

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