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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07/01/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding his opinion of "Judd's little speech about China" as published by Time Magazine.
07/01/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Sumner T. Bernstein letter to family on various topics including his approval of Truman's opinions.
06/30/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Note from Sumner T. Bernstein to family written to accompany money order.
06/29/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding the death of Louis Lane, a fellow soldier from the Portland area.
06/28/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Sumner T. Bernstein letter to family regarding correspondence, his plans for the day, and the family's plans for a series of summer cottages.
06/27/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding success at poker, opinions on various articles he has read.
06/26/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Summner T. Bernstein to family regarding a poker game and an issue of the New Republic.
06/25/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to parents on their anniversary.
06/25/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to father on the occasion of his birthday.
06/24/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding Espiritu Santo [first time he has been permitted to name his precise location]; life on base; elimination of German industrial potential; lack of trained professionals in the US.
06/24/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein expressing frustration over shortage of typewriters on base; European politics.
06/24/1945 C

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding life on base; thoughts on postwar Europe; predicting the rise of communism; encouraging democracy throughout the world.
06/22/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding Reciprocal Trade legislation, weddings, Control Commission in Berlin, postwar Germany, Veterans Administration, activities on base.
06/21/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding European politics.
06/21/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding sadness over the cancellation of a volleyball game and European politics.
06/19/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding peace policy enforcement in Germany; Portland Social Work Conference; Churchill speech on Syrian crisis; his time in the Deering debating club; approach to postwar military training.
06/19/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding his approval of Bob Hope's latest visit to Europe.
06/18/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter from Sumner T. Bernstein to family regarding letters received from family and friends.
06/16/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding life on base; fellow officers; catching up on correspondence from home.
06/16/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding receipt of mail; news from Argentina; volleyball
06/15/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding life on base; New England conservatism; conversion back to peacetime; French action in Syria; social security and unemployment in peacetime.
06/14/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding postwar European politics; Times letters columns.
06/13/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding entertainment on base; correspondence with sister Helen; news of friends from home.
06/12/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding overnight guard duty; delay in mail delivery; movies on base; news of friends from home.
06/10/1945 A

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner T. Bernstein regarding catching up on correspondence; overnight guard duty; NYC mayoral race; politics in postwar Europe; liberalism in the American South; feelings of boredom and depression on base.