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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05/13/1945 C

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding correspondence; Zionism; Palestine; San Francisco Conference; "refugeeism"; Truman's reappointment of Lilienthal.
05/12/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding Mother's Day; V-E Day observations on base; Army's point system for discharge; German financial system.
05/11/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding San Francisco Conference; Zionism; Palestine; Franklin D. Roosevelt's legacy; poker games; Portland Zionist District.
05/11/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding San Francisco Conference; Zionism; Russian policies in Poland and Austria.
05/09/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding international enforcement of German defeat; trouble in California over treatment of Japanese-Americans (comparisons to anti-Semitism and racism against African-Americans).
05/08/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding V-E Day celebrations on base and around the world; Russian policy toward Poland; American politics.
05/07/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding poker game; long-term prospects for peace in Europe; European countries' right to self-determination.
05/06/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding James Joyce; Chandler's resignation from US Senate to become baseball commissioner; British international politics; freedom of the press; rebuilding Germany.
05/05/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding surrender of German forces; news of friends from home; sending GI Consultant to San Francisco.
05/05/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding Poland; postwar French colonies in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia; postwar Russia; American Federation for Polish Jews; Palestine; rebuilding of Germany.
05/03/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding entertainment on base; news from Europe; the war's impact on Maine; boredom.
05/02/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding correspondence with family members; news clippings on Roosevelt and Truman.

[letter incomplete]
05/02/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding moderated session on Poland; unionization and labor disputes at General Motors; US trusteeship over South Pacific islands for military purposes.
05/01/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding 8th anniversary and memories of his Bar Mitzvah; Mother's Day best wishes.
04/30/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding work on base; rumored death of Mussolini; German defeats; Truman; Army bulletins on Fascism; defeat of the Port Bill by the Maine legislature.
04/29/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding catching up on correspondence; thoughts on death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; Roosevelt's place in history; disagreement with father about New Deal and Roosevelt's policies; Truman's role moving forward.
04/28/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding correspondence with family; San Francisco; parochial education; defining liberalism.
04/26/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding Spanish class; correspondence with family and friends; news clippings.
04/25/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding depression and frustration with work; experience in the Army.
04/25/1945 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding correspondence with friends and family; parents' visit to Boston; death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
04/23/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding books for law school; sister's writing; marriage; Palestine; Zionism; Portland's plans to aid returning veterans.
04/22/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding Justice Hugo Black; Southern Democrats; overcoming prejudice; discussion of guaranteed yearly wage; problems standing in the way of peace.
04/21/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding entertainment on base; GI Bill of Rights; volleyball; Jewish Brigade; American Jewish fundraising for Palestine; American Zionist Policy Committee.
04/20/1945

Ida Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from Aunt Ida.
04/20/1945

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding Max Lerner's "Notes on the Succession"; reflections on Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency; speech at Maimonides Club on James Joyce.