---

Descriptive Summary
Creator:	Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, MA)
Title:	Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, MA), records
Dates:	undated, 1923, 1930-1964, 1988, 1991-1992
Abstract:	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. 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. This collection contains reports, pamphlets and hospital publications.
Languages:	The collection is in English.
Quantity:	.5 linear feet (1 manuscript box)
Identification:	I-455
Repository:	American Jewish Historical Society
Location:	Located in AJHS, Boston, MA.

Return to the Top of Page

---

Historical Note¹

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.

Chronology
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.

Return to the Top of Page

---

Scope and Content Note

This collection is comprised of annual reports, bi-annual reports, pamphlets, a menu and a bound edition of reprinted articles and studies by the staff of Beth Israel Hospital. Also included are the following publications: Beth Israel News, The Record, and Wellbeing. This collection contains records prior to the merger with Deaconess Medical Center. For more complete records and documentation, please contact the archives at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (http://lib.harvard.edu/archives/0012.html).

Return to the Top of Page

---

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into three series as follows:

• Series I: General, 1930-1938, 1950, 1988
• Series II: Governance, 1935-1947, 1954-1959, 1964
• Series III: Publications, 1923, [1940-1941], 1951, 1991-1992

Return to the Top of Page

---

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.

Use Restrictions

Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email: reference@ajhs.org

Return to the Top of Page

---

Related Material

Papers of Dr. Samuel Goodman, P-629
Wyner Family Papers, P-803
Combined Jewish Philanthropies, I-220
Dana Family Papers, P-397
Abraham C. Ratshesky Papers, P-586
Beth Israel Hospital Archives, http://lib.harvard.edu/archives/0012.html

Return to the Top of Page

---

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, MA), records; I-455; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

Return to the Top of Page

---

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information is unknown.

Return to the Top of Page

---

Access Points

• Subject Organizations:

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, Mass.)

• Subject Topics:

  • Associations, institutions, etc.--History--20th century.
  • Associations, institutions, etc.--United States.
  • Hospitals.

• Subject Places:

  • Boston (Mass.)
  • Roxbury (Boston, Mass.)

• Document Types:

  • Brochures
  • Corporation reports
  • Menus

Return to the Top of Page

---

Container List

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I: General, 1930-1938, 1950, 1988.
English.
Box 1, Folder 1.
Scope and Content: This series contains one folder with a program from the Women's Auxiliary Luncheon, fundraising material, histories of the hospital and a menu with kosher options for patients.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	1	Miscellaneous Materials	1930-1938, 1950, 1988

Return to the Top of Page

---

Series II: Governance, 1935-1947, 1954-1959, 1964.
English.
Box 1, Folders 2-5.
Scope and Content: This series contains annual reports and bi-annual reports from the hospital.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	2-4	Annual Reports	1935-1944, 1954-1959, 1964
1	5	Bi-Annual Reports	1946-1947

Return to the Top of Page

---

Series III: Publications, 1923, [1940-1941], 1951, 1991-1992.
English.
Box 1, Folders 6-9.
Scope and Content: This series contains hospital publications, including Beth Israel News, The Record, and Wellbeing. Also included is a bound volume of reprints from articles published by medical staff at the hospital.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	6	Beth Israel News	1923
1	7	The Record	1951
1	8	Reprints of the Beth Israel Hospital	[1940-1941]
1	9	Wellbeing	1991-1992

Return to the Top of Page

---