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.
Visit the Beck Archives
Explore Our Featured Collections
Browse Family History Collections
A Glimpse Into 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
