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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07/25/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to "Uncle Lou" (Major Louis Bernstein), Dayton Ohio. Discussion of post-war cottage plans and "being taken to the cleaners" during a poker game.
07/25/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family. Discussion of correspondence received from (other) family and friends;. Disappointment over lack of men to play volleyball with; frustration over poor bridge game. More talk of attending film.
07/24/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding an Ida Lupino film, other family correspondence, and a Massachusetts "chiropractory bill" which he hopes Gov. Tobin will veto.
07/22/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding night spent on guard duty; Kilgore report on postwar European economic conditions; dispute between Russia and Turkey; New York paper deliverers' strike.
07/23/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding Sumner's feelings on an amendment to limit the tenure of the US president to two terms.
07/21/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding life on base; description of population of Santo (French and British plantation owners, Polynesian natives, Chinese laborers); responses to news from home.
07/20/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding correspondence; life on base; package he has sent home; US politics.
07/19/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding news from Harvard; reading materials; comics; questions from father about who he will marry; musings about how long he will remain on Santo.
07/19/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding mail received from home; international community's role in preventing cruelty and hate; Zionism.
07/18/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding bridge hand; British finances; weather on Santo.
07/17/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding American Jewish Community; role of Maine Jewish community in coordinating charity efforts; New York mayoral race; life on base.
07/15/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding life on base; boredom; underpayment of government workers; Southern liberals; letters from sister Helen.
07/15/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding contrast between Maine and Santo; reasons for fighting in the war; totalitarianism vs. fascism; totalitarianism vs. communism; liberty and equality in Russia.
07/14/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding Bastille Day celebration on Santo; elections in the Philippines; Zionist Policy Committee; letters from home; opinions on GI Bill of Rights; American surrender terms in Japan.
07/13/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Sumner T. Bernstein to family about books he has read recently, and crosswords he has attempted.
07/12/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding life on base; correspondence; Chinese politics; American politics.
07/11/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein reporting on a recent bridge game and the articles he has read recently.
07/10/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding a volleyball game.
07/08/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to "The Jacob Thurmans" regarding news of a wedding.
07/08/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family reporting on various letters received from friends and family.
07/07/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family sharing news from letters he has received from friends and family.
07/07/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

"V Mail" message to "Major Louis Bernstein" from Lt. Sumner T. Bernstein. Humorous exchange regarding post-war cottage plans.
07/04/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family apologizing for not mailing the previous day's letter.
07/04/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding politics.
07/03/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family responding to news of a family gathering in Portland, ME.