DENVER — When you think about organizations that make a positive difference in protecting the health and well-being of people in Denver, National Jewish Health and United Way have both made an impact on thousands of people.
But neither organization would be here without the work of a woman, Frances Wisebart Jacobs.
Frances Wisebart Jacobs was born in the Midwest in 1843, eventually moving across the country with her husband to Denver in 1870.
“So what does Denver look like at the time? Well, in one word – tuberculosis. In the 1860s, it began as a worldwide pandemic. It was one of the deadliest diseases in the 1800s and 1900s and it was very prevalent in the urban poor,” said Dr. Anna Weissman, Associate Curator of Domestic Life with History Colorado.
At the time, there’s no cure for tuberculosis. Doctors were recommending fresh air and a dry, sunny climate leading thousands of people to move to Colorado.
“So Frances realizes, these people need help. So, she first starts an organization that focuses on people within her own community, the Jewish immigrants mostly from eastern Europe that were living on the west side of Colfax,” Weissman said. “And then she realizes you know people outside of my background and my religion need help. There’s 30,000 people at the time that need help. So she begins another organization that basically helps everybody in any community that is suffering from tuberculosis.”
Weissman said Wisebart Jacobs would make personal house calls to the sick, carrying a large bag with her that included soap and food that she’d pass out to those in need, even bringing doctors to visit them.
“So then she realizes you know, there’s a lot of organizations, I have two organizations. Why don’t we combine them all into one umbrella under this federation. And she starts with a couple of other faith leaders, the Charity Society of Denver. And this is a federation of about 23 organizations that are working to help people, indigent people, people suffering from tuberculosis,” Weissman said.
That organization would later become the United Way, which continues to help those in need all across the country.
“So with the help of a young rabbi who comes to Denver, Rabbi William Friedman of Temple Emanuel, they actually put together an association for a Jewish Hospital,” Weissman said. "And they start collecting funding for this National Jewish Hospital. And they were able to collect enough money to get the cornerstone laid.”
Unfortunately, Wisebart Jacobs wouldn’t see the hospital completed, passing away in 1892 far before its completion in 1899. But her legacy there has continued to make a positive impact in the decades since.
“National Jewish Hospital has done incredible work for tuberculosis, for respiratory diseases, it was the number one hospital for respiratory diseases and it wouldn’t be here without her,” Weissman said.
“Her work is incredible today,” Weissman said. “And then when you rewind and realize that she was dealing with the difficulties of society at the time for women, traditional gender roles, being a Jewish woman at the time. It’s even more incredible.”
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