Maine Judaica Collection Receives Important Gift
The Judaica Collection of USM's Jean Byers Sampson Center
for Diversity in Maine recently received extensive family
papers from Sumner and Rosalyne Bernstein, leaders in Maine's
legal and civic communities, and one of the region's most
influential Jewish families.
The papers, which represent seven linear feet of archival
materials, are a significant acquisition to this growing collection
documenting Jewish life in Maine. Sumner Bernstein's papers
span the period from 1934 to 2002, during which he served
in WWII, met and married his wife, Rosalyne, and helped establish
the Portland firm of Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson as one
of Maine's pre-eminent law firms.
Sumner Bernstein, who passed away on June 24, 2002, was a
leader in Jewish affairs both in Maine and nationally. He
was an honorary director of the Jewish Community Alliance
and a member of the National Council of the America-Israel
Public Affairs Committee. Of particular value are 25 folders
of family correspondence dating from 1940-1945, which will
add greatly to original research opportunities at USM in American
and New England studies.
"The Bernstein family is extraordinary in many ways,"
said Abraham Peck, the Sampson Center's Judaica scholar-in-residence.
"They have led the struggle for a sense of place for the Jewish
community in Portland that is very much a part of the broader
communal and civic life of this city."
Rosalyne Bernstein, who continues to be active in community,
government and educational endeavors, donated her personal
papers to the Sampson Center in 2002. Those papers document
her work, particularly in the fields of education, public
health and social services, as well as her activity in the
local Jewish community.
"The Rosalyne S. Bernstein Papers record the development
of a woman who began her community involvement in the traditional
ways open to women in the 1950s, and evolved into a leading
activist and supporter for some of the most important institutions
in this state," noted Susie Bock, director of the Sampson
Center for Diversity. "They will be an extremely valuable
resource for original research at USM. We now have a complete
record of a family that has been central to the Jewish community
in Maine for generations."
"It's a good feeling to know that the kind of work in the
community that my husband and I have done will be a resource
for others," said Rosalyne Bernstein, who is a member of USM's
Board of Visitors. "I am tremendously impressed with how USM
has grown in importance of programs and quality, and I'm so
pleased our papers will be a permanent part of the university,
which I care about deeply."
The Judaica Collection is one of four special collections
of the Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine, housed at USM's
Glickman Family Library. The entire collection contains approximately
4,000 volumes and 300 linear feet of manuscripts. Other collections
include: the African-American Collection of Maine; the Franco-American
Heritage Collection, which is housed at Lewiston-Auburn College;
and the Gay and Lesbian Collection. USM's Special Collections
also include the University Archives and the General Rare
Book and Manuscript Collection.
For more information on the Sampson Center and Special Collections,
contact Susie R. Bock, head of Special Collections, University
Archivist, and director of the Sampson Center at 780-4269,
or visit the department's Web site at: http://library.usm.maine.edu/speccoll/index.html.
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