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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03/25/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding weekend spent in Richmond; rumors about when he will be discharged from the Army.
03/24/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Postcard to mother from Sumner Bernstein regarding his recent visit to her; trip to Richmond; her health.
03/21/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding trips to Boston and Washington, D.C.; correspondence course; life on base.
03/20/1946

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding mother's health; plans for Sumner's visit to Boston.
03/20/1946 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding plans for trip to Boston; communications with Harvard about course credit; life on base.
03/19/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding correspondence course; group of officers on base; correspondence.
03/18/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding weekend trip to visit Stella in Richmond (parties, dates, Temple events); plans to meet family in Boston.
03/15/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding a course he is taking; plans to visit Richmond; life on base.
03/14/1946

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding plans to visit family; Sumner's training as an athletic officer.
03/13/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding tax returns; correspondence with family; plans for trip to Boston; sister Helen's activities; Physical Fitness tests.
03/13/1946 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to father from Sumner Bernstein regarding plans for Sumner's visit to Boston; a course Sumner is taking.
03/13/1946 C

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to mother from Sumner Bernstein regarding fitness tests; plans for visit; mother's recovery from eye surgery.
03/13/1946 D

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding US relations with Russia; weekend plans with Stella Bowman in Richmond.
03/12/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding Purim; officer training course; living situation on base; weekend plans; US relations with Russia; stance on compulsory military training.
03/12/1946 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to mother from Sumner Bernstein regarding mother's eye operation; plans for visiting her.
03/11/1946 B

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding discovery that his mother has a detached retina; need for a second operation on her eye; plans for Sumner to come visit her; plan for Sumner entering law school in the fall.
03/11/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding move to officer school at Camp Lee for four weeks.
03/09/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding life on base; correspondence.
03/08/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding Athletics and Recreation officer training course; happiness at leaving Aberdeen; plans to visit friends.
03/08/1946 B

Sumner T. Bernstein

Postcard to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding weekend trip to Washington, D.C.
03/05/1946

Israel Bernstein

Letter to Sumner Bernstein from father Israel regarding a party Sumner attended; plans for Sumner to return to Harvard; correspondence; mother's health.
02/27/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Postcard to mother from Sumner Bernstein regarding weekend visit to Washington, D.C.
01/07/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Telegram from Sumner Bernstein to father Israel regarding his expected arrival time in Boston.
01/03/1946

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein, written as he travels back to the US from the South Pacific. He begins writing in Guadalcanal; describes his travel to Oahu; military bureaucracy; wishes for family's good health.
12/28/1945

Sumner T. Bernstein

Letter to family from Sumner Bernstein regarding concern over mother's health; information and communications necessary to allow him official leave to come home.