Beth Israel Hospital Boston, Mass

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Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

In 1916, the Jewish community of Boston established Beth Israel Hospital on Townsend Street in Roxbury to provide health care to immigrants in the area. Although accessible to everyone, the hospital provided Yiddish-speaking services for Eastern European Jewish immigrants and served kosher food, as well as conducted Jewish religious services. The 45-bed hospital had several departments, including Medical Services, Surgical Services and Special Services, which encompassed laryngology, neurology, genitourinary surgery, gynecology, ophthalmologic surgery, pathology, serology-bacteriology, dermatology, radiology, anesthesiology and dental surgery. A school of nursing opened in 1918 to encourage Jewish women to enter the profession, and was later followed by a social services department in 1920. The hospital also opened and administered outpatient clinics for the treatment of diabetes and tuberculosis, and care of babies.

In 1928 the hospital entered into a teaching agreement with Harvard Medical School, Tufts University, and Simmons College. Shortly thereafter, the hospital moved to its current location in the Longwood area of Boston and expanded to a 220-bed operation. During 1935-1936, at the height of the Depression, Beth Israel spent 1.5 million dollars in free patient care and was only one of two local hospitals to offer health care to people on welfare.

In 1996, Beth Israel Hospital merged with Deaconess Medical Center and became Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

  • 1915: Certificate of Incorporation issued to charter members of Beth Israel Hospital.
  • 1916: Beth Israel is established.
  • 1918: Beth Israel opens its nursing school.
  • 1920: The social services department is created.
  • 1928: Beth Israel enters into teaching agreements with Harvard Medical School, Tufts University, and Simmons College.
  • 1928: Beth Israel moves to the Longwood area of Boston. Eleven outpatient clinics are in operation at this time.
  • 1930: Beth Israel has 28 outpatient clinics.
  • 1935 - 1936 : Beth Israel spends 1.5 million dollars in free patient care.
  • 1936: Beth Israel is one of only two Boston hospitals to accept patients on welfare.
  • 1996: Beth Israel and Deaconess Medical Center merge to become Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Footnote 1 Information for this historical sketch is from the following resources: "The History of BIDMC." Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. August 9, 2010 ( http://www.bidmc.org/AboutBIDMC/TheHistoryofBIDMC.aspx ) Materials from the collection.

From the guide to the Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, MA), records, undated, 1923, 1930-1964, 1988, 1991-1992, (American Jewish Historical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Insley, Virginia, 1912-. Papers, 1902-1994 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1939-1976. Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine
referencedIn Cohen, Ethel, 1892-1977. Transcript of oral history, 1976. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Bibring, Edward, 1894-1959. Papers, 1929-1960 (inclusive), 1941-1958 (bulk) Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Bibring, Grete L. (Grete Lehner), 1899-1977. Papers, 1929-1977. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Tenenbaum, Joseph. Dr. Joseph and Sheila Tenenbaum collection Records relating to the career of Joseph Tenenbaum Correspondence correspondence. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
referencedIn Sheldon Glueck papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Jacob Fine Papers Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Mixter, Charles Galloupe, 1882-1965. Papers of Charles Galloupe Mixter, 1937-1946 (bulk). Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Papers of Caroline K. (Caroline Klein) Simon, (inclusive), (bulk), 1917-1993, 1950-1980 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Harvard Medical School. Office of the Dean. Records of the Office of the Dean, Harvard Medical School, 1911-1982 (inclusive), 1965-1977 (bulk). Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Paul A. Freund papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Andreĭ Sakharov papers, 1852-2002 (inclusive), 1960-1990 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Geschwind, Norman. Papers, 1920s-1979. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
creatorOf Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, Mass) Records Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Lowenstein, Edward. Papers, 1969-2000. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Tenenbaum, Joseph. Dr. Joseph and Sheila Tenenbaum collection Records relating to the career of Joseph Tenenbaum correspondence articles essays speeches. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
referencedIn Cash, William R. 'Dr. D." the 'doctor' without a degree / by William R. Cash. Minuteman Library Network
referencedIn Fine, Jacob, 1900-. Papers, 1939-1976. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Jonathan M. Mann Oral History, 1996 New Mexico Health Historical Collection, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center
referencedIn Papers, 1911-1969 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Ethel Cohen, 1918-1977 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Boston, Mass.) Records Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Albert Ehrenfried Papers., 1853-1951, 1901-1951 The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
referencedIn Harvard Medical School. Office of the Dean. Committee files, 1963-1980. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Papers, 1960-2003. Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine
referencedIn Benson, Herbert, 1935-. Papers, 1960-2003. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Events Photographs, 1965-2000. Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine
referencedIn Freiman, David G. Papers, 1840-1980. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Rabb Family and Stop & Shop Collection Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Simon, Morris, 1926-2005. Personal and Professional Papers, 1885, 1903, 1930-2004. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn White, Augustus A. Papers, 1978-2003. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Papers, 1901-1988 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Fleischner, Felix. Papers, 1941-1968. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Papers, 1929-1960 (inclusive), 1941-1958 (bulk) Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine
referencedIn Papers, 1926-1991. Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine
referencedIn Wyner Family Papers Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, Mass) Records Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Ingbar, Sidney H. Papers, 1926-1991. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Harvard Medical School. Office of the Dean. Harvard hospital files, 1950-1980. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Benson, Herbert, 1935- person
associatedWith Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center corporateBody
associatedWith Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, MA) corporateBody
associatedWith Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Bibring, Edward, 1894-1959 person
associatedWith Bibring, Edward, 1894-1959. person
associatedWith Bibring, Grete L. (Grete Lehner), 1899-1977. person
correspondedWith Caroline K. (Caroline Klein) Simon person
associatedWith Cash, William R. person
associatedWith Cohen, Ethel, 1892-1977. person
associatedWith Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Boston, MA) corporateBody
associatedWith Ehrenfried, Albert person
associatedWith Ethel Cohen, 1892-1977 person
associatedWith Fine, Dr. Jacob person
associatedWith Fine, Jacob, 1900- person
associatedWith Fleischner, Felix. person
associatedWith Freiman, David G. person
associatedWith Geschwind, Norman. person
associatedWith Glueck, Sheldon, 1896- person
associatedWith Harvard Medical School. Office of Public Affairs. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard Medical School. Office of the Dean. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard Medical School. Office of the Dean. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard Medical School. Office of the Dean. corporateBody
associatedWith Ingbar, Sidney H. person
associatedWith Insley, Virginia, 1912- person
correspondedWith Jennie L. (Jennie Loitman) Barron, 1891-1969 person
associatedWith Lowenstein, Edward. person
associatedWith Mann, Jonathan Max., 1947-1998 person
associatedWith Mixter, Charles Galloupe, 1882-1965. person
associatedWith Paul A. Freund person
associatedWith Rabb Family family
correspondedWith Sakharov, Andreĭ, 1921-1989 person
associatedWith Simon, Morris, 1926-2005. person
associatedWith Solomon, Maida Herman, 1891-1988 person
associatedWith Spidle, Jake, 1941- person
associatedWith Tenenbaum, Joseph. person
associatedWith White, Augustus A. person
associatedWith Wyner Family family
Place Name Admin Code Country
Roxbury (Boston, Mass.)
Boston (Mass.)
Subject
Associations, institutions, etc.
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Information

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