Sumner T. Bernstein Correspondence

Sumner Thurman Bernstein (1924 - 2002) grew up in Portland, Maine, the son of lawyer parents. He served in the South Pacific in the U.S. Army during World War II (achieving the rank of Captain) and attended Harvard University for his undergraduate education and for law school. He returned to Portland after marrying Rosalyne Spindel in 1949, to join his father and uncle’s law practice, which he helped to grow into Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer and Nelson in 1964. He was very engaged with the community, participating in the following organizations, among others, often serving as president or chair of these groups for a portion of his tenure: Portland City Council (1955-1961); Portland School Committee (1955-58); Portland Housing Authority; Downtown Portland Corporation; Maine State Bar Association; Maine Bar Foundation; Jewish Federation of Southern Maine; Temple Beth El; Maine Jewish Council; Jewish Community Center; National Council of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee; Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America; Portland YMCA; Maine Medical Center; Portland Public Library; and World Affairs Council of Maine. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Maine School of Law from 1993-98 and was a member of their Board of Visitors, and he was an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the University of Southern Maine. The Papers document his civic work and personal life. They include correspondence, newspaper clippings, and text of his speeches and talks. Of particular value are 25 folders of family correspondence dating from 1940 to 1945, which include letters covering Bernstein’s military training and World War II service. Other records and reminiscences of his army service and Harvard education are present, as well. The Papers also include materials related to his final illness and death, including letters of sympathy and condolence, information about contributions made in his honor, obituaries, eulogies, and other tributes, and videos/cassettes of memorial services and other celebrations of his life. The Papers also include two albums – one documenting the 85-year history of Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer, and Nelson and the other a collection of notes and photos compiled for The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine’s Evening to Honor Sumner and Rosalyne Bernstein (May 15, 2000).

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05/31/1946

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding family visits; summer school; Kravchenko's I Chose Freedom.
05/29/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding visit with family (Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Don, Aunt Esther, Ellen); summer school; court martial; Cluny Brown.
05/28/1946 B

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding attempt to call Senator Brewster; registration for Harvard.
05/28/1946 C

Rebecca Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from mother Rebecca (Peggy) regarding attempts to move up Sumner's discharge date; Harvard summer school.
05/28/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding meeting with Colonels; when he will leave the Army; registering for Harvard.
05/27/1946 B

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding train strike.
05/27/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding meeting with Colonels on timing of his leaving the Army; life insurance.
05/26/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding plans for leaving the Army; visits with family friends in Allentown, PA.
05/24/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner Bernstein to sister Helen Barbara regarding correspondence; Harvard registration; news from home.
05/23/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding life on base; demobilization; strike.
05/22/1946

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from his father Israel Bernstein regarding correspondence; Sumner's last few weeks in service; mother's eye surgery; staying in the reserves.
05/21/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to Sumner T. Bernstein regarding life on base; Harvard summer school; demobilization.
05/20/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding weekend trip to New York.
05/17/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding life on base; Jewish services; weekend plans.
05/16/1946

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding news from Sumner; the American Zionist movement; reading I Chose Freedom by Victor Kranchenko.
05/15/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding upcoming demobilization; pay; leave; thoughts about joining the reserves.
05/14/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding correspondence; news from home; weekend plans; life on base.
05/13/1946 B

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from his father Israel regarding news from Sumner; news about mother; news about sister Helen's sorority formal.
05/13/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding trip to New York for a date; weekend plans; life on base.
05/12/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumer T. Bernstein regarding news from home; Mother's Day; trip to New York for a date.
05/10/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding travel plan to Brooklyn; attendance at services; anniversary of V-E Day.
05/09/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding time on leave; life on base; correspondence; news from home; Red Sox.
05/08/1946 C

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding upcoming demobilization; Sumner's activities; Mother's Day.
05/08/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding phone call home; life on base; adjusting to life in US.
05/08/1946 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding correspondence; life on base.