Texas Archival Resources Online

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Descriptive Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Description of Series

Correspondence, 1924-1986

USS Houston Campaign, 1927-1942

USS Houston, 1927-1985

Democratic Party, 1927-1967

Franklin Roosevelt Visit, 1933-1980

Publications, 1927-1981

USS Texas, 1937-1980

Miscellaneous, 1917-1988

University of Houston Libraries, Special Collections

William A. Bernrieder Collection



Descriptive Summary

Creator:Bernrieder, William A.
Title:William A. Bernrieder Collection
Dates:1917 - 1988
Abstract:As an assistant to Houston mayor Oscar Holcombe, William A. Bernrieder spearheaded a successful local drive to have a Navy heavy cruiser named for the City of Houston. He supported the USS Houston (CA-30) during her years of service as a member of the Cruiser Houston Committee, and following the ship's sinking, continued to memorialize the ship and interact with surviving crew members. This collection consists primarily of materials related to the campaign to have a ship named for the city of Houston, and the history of the USS Houston (CA-30). Additional materials are related to the 1936 visit to Houston of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Identification:1979-001
Quantity:18 boxes; 8.6 linear feet
Repository:Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries

Biographical Note

William Anton Bernrieder was born on June 22, 1900. He attended St. Joseph School in 1906, then Annunciation Church School. He then attended St. Thomas College (now St. Thomas High School) after a period at St. Mary's Seminary. William Bernrieder completed three years of law school at Houston Law School.

In 1923, William Bernrieder began six years of service to Oscar Holcombe, the mayor of Houston. During this time he began his work toward having a ship in the U.S. Navy named after Houston. In 1927 he was appointed to the Cruiser Houston Committee, which coordinated the drive towards obtaining a cruiser named "Houston." Thousands of letters and telegrams were sent to Washington as part of the crusade, which was successful. A heavy cruiser named for the city of Houston was launched on Sept. 7, 1927. Once Bernrieder and the other members of the committee had succeeded in having a ship named for the city, the committee worked toward supporting the ship and its crew through gifts and other means.

From 1930 to 1933 Bernrieder served as the assistant to Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. As part of his duties, he accompanied Byrd on a nationwide speaking tour. During this period, however, Bernrieder paid careful attention to the Cruiser Houston and continued to be involved in supporting the vessel.

Bernrieder was also involved in politics, serving as Executive Secretary for local arrangements for the National Democratic Convention, held in Houston in 1928. He was also involved in arrangements for President Franklin Roosevelt's trip to Houston in 1936.

Receiving his commission in 1926, Bernrieder served for 22 years in the Naval Reserve. He spent five years on active duty with the Navy during World War II, serving on the staffs of five admirals.

Following World War II Bernrieder was involved in the real estate business in Houston, although he continued his interest in the history of the USS Houston (CA-30), which had been lost in the Battle of Sunda Strait on Feb. 28/March 1, 1942. Bernrieder collected information related to the history of the ship as well as efforts to retrieve items from the sunken vessel.

Bernrieder died on October 18, 1993.

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Scope and Contents

The William A. Bernrieder Collection has a great deal of information about the history of the USS Houston (CA-30) as well as the USS Texas and Franklin Roosevelt's visit to Houston in 1936. Bernrieder corresponded with many of the leading businessmen and politicians in Houston during his lifetime, as well as officers in the Navy. The collection dates from 1917- 1988, with the bulk of the material dating from 1929-1936 and from 1970-1986.

Bernrieder kept a considerable amount of material from his early work regarding having a ship named for the city of Houston and added additional materials to his files throughout his life. There are also a number of items from A. D. Simpson, who was heavily involved in the Cruiser Houston Committee as well.

For the most part, arrangement has followed Bernrieder's subject files with some modification. File folders that could be sub-divided chronologically or by sub-topic have been refiled. Also, folders with materials covering the same topic which had originally been filed separately have been brought together. Because Bernrieder followed a subject arrangement for his files, correspondence is scattered throughout the collection.

There are a number of series within the collection, based on subject with the exception of the Correspondence series. The series are: Correspondence, Democratic Party, Franklin Roosevelt's Visit, USS Houston Campaign, USS Houston, USS Texas, Publications, and Miscellaneous. Within each series are additional topics, arranged alphabetically by subject heading. The largest series is the USS Houston series, which chronicles the history of the USS Houston.

Later additions to the collection have been incorporated into the subject files arrangement where possible. However, large amounts of correspondence which were donated after the initial gift of materials in 1979 have been given a simple chronological arrangement. Most of the correspondence in those files discusses the USS Houston and related matters, although there is one letter, dated August 23, 1977 which includes Bernrieder's recollections of the Camp Logan riots in Houston in 1917.

For related materials, see the Cruiser Houston Collection, which includes materials donated by crew members from the USS Houston and their families and friends. A large portion of the photographs in the Cruiser Houston Collection were given by Bernrieder, and have remained in that collection.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use Restrictions

Special Collections owns the physical items in our collections, but copyright normally belongs to the creator of the materials or their heirs. The researcher has full responsibility for determining copyright status, locating copyright holders, and abiding by current copyright laws when publishing or displaying copies of Special Collections material in print or electronic form. For more information, consult the appropriate librarian.

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Index Terms

Terms are either Library of Congress Subject Headings or taken from local sources.
Subjects (Persons)
Bernrieder, William A.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945
Subjects (Organizations)
Cruiser Houston Committee
Houston (Cruiser: CA-30)
Subjects
Java Sea, Battle of the, Indonesia, 1942
World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, American
Sunda Strait, Battle of, Indonesia, 1942
Democratic National Convention (1928 : Houston, Tex.)

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

William A. Bernrieder Collection, Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries.

Acquisition

The collection was given to the library by William A. Bernrieder, Executive Secretary of the Cruiser Houston Committee, in 1979. Additional items were given by Mr. Bernrieder throughout the 1980s.

Processed by

Andrea Bean Hough, 1995

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Detailed Description

 
boxfolder
11-18Correspondence, 1924-1986
Extent (643 items)
This is an artificial series, which incorporates all of the correspondence from later gifts by Bernrieder to the collection. The correspondence follows a chronological arrangement scheme. Most of the correspondence relates to the USS Houston and Mr. Bernrieder's interest in the collection. Materials from the 1980s include a great deal of correspondence with Otto Schwarz, founder of the USS Houston Survivors Association. Bernrieder corresponded with a number of officers in the United States Navy, as well as Texas and Houston politicians.
BoxFolder
11Correspondence, 1924-1929
2Correspondence, 1930-1935
3Correspondence, 1936-1940
4Correspondence, 1941-1950
5Correspondence, 1951-1960
6Correspondence, 1961-1970
7Correspondence, 1971-1974
8Correspondence, 1975-1978
9Correspondence, 1979
10Correspondence, 1980
11Correspondence, 1980
12Correspondence, 1981
13Correspondence, 1981
14Correspondence, 1981
15Correspondence, 1982
16Correspondence, 1983
17Correspondence, 1984-1986
18Correspondence, undated

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boxfolder
21-15USS Houston Campaign, 1927-1942
Extent (302 items)
This series relates primarily to the campaign to have a cruiser named after the city of Houston. The bulk of the materials is correspondence. A great deal of related materials may be found both the USS Houston series as well as the Correspondence series. A small amount of information relating to the drive for a second Cruiser Houston is in this series (for related materials, see the files in the USS Houston series under USS Houston (CL-81)).
BoxFolder
21Correspondence, 1927
2Correspondence, 1927
3Correspondence, 1927
4Correspondence, 1927
5Correspondence, 1927
6Correspondence, 1928
7Correspondence, 1929
8Correspondence, undated
9Organizations, undated
10Press Materials, 1927-1942
11Resolutions, 1927
12Resolutions, 1927
13Resolutions, 1927
14Resolutions, 1928
15Resolutions, 1928

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box
2-11, 18, Framed, OversizeUSS Houston, 1927-1985
Extent (5,452 items)
This is the largest of the series and focuses primarily on the USS Houston (CA-30). The material in this section includes correspondence, clippings, telegrams, photographs, and other materials. The bulk of the series dates from 1927-1936, focusing on the beginnings of the USS Houston, its launch, and early visits to the city of Houston.
The correspondence relating to the launching of the USS Houston is arranged chronologically. Invitations were sent to all major naval officers, many Houston and Texas politicians, members of the U.S. Cabinet, and dignitaries from Congress and from other states. Replies were received by nearly all those invited.
There are some materials relating to the two ships which followed the USS Houston (CA-30). Another ship named the USS Houston was launched in 1943. Materials relating to that ship may be found in the USS Houston (CL-81) files. Materials relating to the nuclear submarine, the USS Houston (SSN-713), may be located under that heading. Clippings have been placed in files, but have not been placed in order. Particular care must be taken when using the clippings as most are on highly acidic, fragile newsprint.
BoxFolder
216Address, 1960
17Admiral's Flag
Box
FramedAdmirals--Photographs (9)
BoxFolder
217Allin, B. C. and Mrs., 1930-1960
18Bell Presentation, 1974
19Bernrieder Collection, 1978-1980
20Blue Bonnet, 1938-1940
21Blue Bonnet, 1975-1980
22Blue Bonnet, 1980-1982
23Blue Bonnet, 1983
24Blue Bonnet, 1984
25Blue Bonnet, 1985
26Blue Bonnet, 1986
27Blue Bonnet, undated
BoxFolder
31Book, 1957-1959
2Book, 1959-1960
3Book, 1961-1964
4Book, 1965-1967
5Book Proposal--Milner, Samuel, undated
6Byrd, Admiral and Mrs., 1929-1930
7Christmas, 1931-1932
8Christmas, 1933
9Christmas, 1936
10Christmas--Photographs, 1936
11Christmas--Photographs, 1936
12Christmas--Photographs, 1936
13Christmas--Photographs, 1936
14Christmas--Photographs, 1936
15Christmas--Solicitation, 1933
16Clippings, undated
17Clippings, undated
18Clippings, undated
19Clippings, undated
20Clippings, undated
21Clippings, undated
22Clippings, undated
23Clippings, undated
24Clippings, undated
25Clippings, undated
26Clippings, undated
27Clippings, undated
28Clippings, undated
29Clippings, undated
30Clippings, undated
31Clippings, undated
32Clippings, undated
BoxFolder
41Clippings, undated
2Clippings, undated
3Clippings, undated
4Clippings, undated
5Clippings, undated
6Collection Luncheon--Photographs, 1979
7Collection Luncheon--Photographs, 1979
8Collection Luncheon--Photographs, 1979
9Commanding Officers, 1927-1930
10Commanding Officers, 1931-1934
11Commanding Officers, 1935
12Commanding Officers, 1936
13Commanding Officers, 1937
14Commanding Officers, 1938-1939
15Commanding Officers, 1940-1942
16Commanding Officers, 1943-1962
Box
FramedCommanding Officers--Photographs (17)
BoxFolder
417Commission SSN-713, 1982
18Correspondence, 1927-1933
19Correspondence, 1934-1935
20Correspondence, 1936-1937
21Correspondence, 1938-1944
22Correspondence, 1945-1959
23Correspondence, 1960-1969
24Correspondence, 1970-1981
25Cruiser Houston Committee, 1927-1957
BoxFolder
51Cruiser Houston Committee--Correspondence, 1929-1937
2Cruiser Houston Committee--Correspondence, 1955-1972
3Cruiser Houston Committee--Finances, 1926-1929
4Cruiser Houston Committee--Finances, 1929
5Cruiser Houston Committee--Finances, 1930-1941
6Cruiser Houston Committee--Finances--Bank Books, 1934-1941
7Cruiser Houston Committee--Members, undated
8Cruiser Houston Committee--Minutes, 1927
9Cruiser Houston Committee--Miscellaneous, undated
10Cruiser Houston Committee--Resolutions, 1928-1962
11Cruiser Houston Room--Photograph, 1979
12Documentary Expedition, 1979
Box
18Flags
BoxFolder
513Gifts, 1930-1933
14Gifts, 1933
15Gifts, 1934-1936
16Gifts, 1936
17Gifts, 1936-1974
BoxFolder
61George R. Brown Room Dedication, 1981
2Houston Centennial, 1936
3History, 1932-1960
4History, 1961-1963
5History, 1964-1967
6History, 1968-1974
7History, 1975-1980
8History of CL-81, 1946
9Information, 1927-1983
10Information--Brochures, 1951-1973
11Information--News Releases, 1942
Box
OversizeJahnke, Ernest Lee, 1930-1933
BoxFolder
612Launch SSN-713, 1981
13Launch SSN-713--Invitations, 1981
14Launching--Clippings, 1936
15Launching--Correspondence, 1927-1928
16Launching--Correspondence, 1929
17Launching--Correspondence, 1929
18Launching--Correspondence, 1929
19Launching--Correspondence, 1929
20Launching--Correspondence, 1929
21Launching--Correspondence, 1929
BoxFolder
71Launching--Correspondence, 1929
2Launching--Correspondence, 1929
3Launching--Correspondence--Sponsors, 1929
4Launching--Invitations, 1929
5Launching--Invitations, 1929
6Launching--Invitations, 1929
7Launching--Invitations, 1929
8Launching--Invitations, 1929
9Launching--Invitations, 1929
10Launching--Invitations, 1929
11Launching--Invitations, 1929
12Launching--Invitations, 1929
13Launching--Invitations, 1929
14Launching--Invitations, 1929
15Launching--Invitations--Miscellaneous, 1929
16Launching--Lists, 1929
17Launching--Miscellaneous, 1929
18Launching--Other Ships, 1928
19Launching--Other Ships, 1929
20Launching--Other Ships, 1929
21Launching--Other Ships, 1929
22Launching--Replies, 1929
BoxFolder
81Launching--Replies, 1929
2Launching--Replies, 1929
3Launching--Replies, 1929
4Launching--Replies, 1929
5Launching--Replies, 1929
6Launching--Replies, 1929
7Launching--Replies, 1929
8Launching--Replies, 1929
9Launching--Replies, 1929
10Launching--Replies, 1929
11Launching--Replies, 1929
12Launching--Replies, 1929
13Launching--Replies, 1929
BoxFolder
91Launching--Replies, 1929
2Launching--Replies, 1929
3Launching--Replies, 1929
4Launching--Replies, 1929
5Launching--Thank yous, 1929
6Loss of Ship, 1942
7Loss of Ship--Memorial, 1942
8Lost Battalion Association, 1985
9Lost Battalion Association, 1985
10Lost Battalion Association, 1985
Box
18Maps
BoxFolder
911McKie, Ronald, 1960-1962
12McKie, Ronald, 1963-1968
13Medal of Honor, [1942]
14Memorial, 1975-1979
15Memorial, 1980
16Memorial Room, Houston Public Library, 1930-1978
17Model, 1958
18Model--Photographs, undated
19Model--Photographs, undated
20Model--Photographs, undated
21Model--Photographs--Drummond, Joseph, undated
22Model--Photographs--Drummond, Joseph, undated
23Model--Photographs--Drummond, Joseph, undated
24Model--Photographs--Presentation, 1958
25Model Presentation, 1958
26Model Presentation, 1958
BoxFolder
101Model Purchase, 1942-1979
2Navy Day, 1933
3Navy Day--Correspondence, 1927-1930
4Navy Day--Miscellaneous, 1930
5Navy Day--Planning, 1930
6Oral Histories, 1981
Box
OversizePhotograph, 1930
Box
FramedPhotograph, undated
BoxFolder
107Photographs, undated
8Photographs, undated
9Photographs--Launching CL-81, 1943
10Photographs--Reunion, 1985
11Photographs--Reunion, 1985
12Photographs--Reunion, 1985
13Photographs--Reunion, 1985
14Photographs--Roosevelt, Henry L., undated
15Photographs--Ship's Plans, undated
16Photographs--Ship's Plans, undated
17USS Houston (CL-81), 1942
18USS Houston (CL-81)--Bond Drive, 1942-1943
19Thousand Houston Volunteers --Ceremony, 1942
20Thousand Houston Volunteers--Ceremony, 1942
21Thousand Houston Volunteers--Crew, 1942
22USS Houston (CL-81)--Launch, 1942-1943
Box
FramedShip's Plans, undated
BoxFolder
1023Shrine Proposal, undated
24Silver Service--Clippings, 1906-1967
25Silver Service--Correspondence, 1927-1929
26Silver Service--Correspondence, 1929
27Silver Service--Correspondence, 1929-1942
28Silver Service--Miscellaneous, undated
29Silver Service--Photographs, 1929
30Silver Service--Photographs, Other, [1929]
Box
18Silver Service--Photographs, Other, [1929]
BoxFolder
1031Silver Service--Recovery, 1943-1974
32Survivors' Roster, undated
33Thousand Houston Volunteers Monument, 1985
34Thousand Houston Volunteers Monument--Photograph, 1985
BoxFolder
111Visit, 1934-1935
2Visit, 1938-1939
3Visit, 1939
4Visit, 1983
5Visit--Committees, 1934
6 Visit--Communications with Ship, 1934
7Visit--Finances, 1934
8Visit--Letters of Thanks, 1934
9Visit--Miscellaneous, 1934
10Visit--Navy Day, 1934
11Visit--Officers' Rosters, 1934
12Visit--Publicity, [1934]
13Visit--Radio Address, 1929-1930
14Wait, J. Russell, 1939
15Wait, J. Russell, 1939
16Wait, J. Russell, 1956
17Winslow, Walter, 1967-1969
18Winslow, Walter, 1970-1972
19Winslow, Walter, 1973-1974
20Winslow, Walter, 1975-1977
21Winslow, Walter, undated

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boxfolder
121-12Democratic Party, 1927-1967
Extent (119 items)
This is a small series, which includes a number of items relating to Bernrieder's involvement in politics. The bulk of the series includes clippings relating to the 1932 elections and the Democratic National Convention, which was held in Houston in 1928. Additional materials include correspondence with Chesley Jurney and George Graves. For related materials, see the files in the Franklin Roosevelt Visit Series.
BoxFolder
121Clippings, 1929
2Clippings, 1932
3Clippings, 1932
4Clippings, 1932
5Clippings, 1967
6Convention--Graves, George, 1927-1962
7Convention--Miscellaneous, 1928-1932
8Convention--Report, 1928
9Convention--Souvenir, 1928
10Jurney, Chesley, 1927-1935
11Miscellaneous, 1928-1962
12Smith, Alfred--Photograph, 1927

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box
12-13, 16, FramedFranklin Roosevelt Visit, 1933-1980
Extent (495 items)
The bulk of this series relates to Franklin Roosevelt's visit to Houston in 1936. Included are documents relating to planning the various events, such as the parade and visit to the San Jacinto Battlefield. There is some correspondence with various Democratic politicians, including Marvin McIntyre, Alfred E. Smith, Jr. and Henry Breckinridge. These materials were labeled by Bernrieder as belonging with the Roosevelt visit material.
Box
16Banner, 1936
BoxFolder
1213Battlefield Plans, 1936
14Boat List, 1936
15Breckinridge, Henry, 1933-1936
16Committees, 1936
17Cooper, Beauford O., 1970
18Correspondence, 1934-1936
19Correspondence, 1936
20Correspondence, 1936
21Correspondence, 1936
22Correspondence, 1936
23Correspondence, 1936-1980
24McIntyre, Marvin, 1933-1937
25Memorabilia, 1936
26Miscellaneous, 1936
27Parade Plans, 1936
28Participants, 1936
29Passes, 1936
Box
FramedPhotograph, undated
BoxFolder
1230Photographs, 1936
31Recap, 1936
BoxFolder
131Scrapbook, 1936
2Ship Channel Trip, 1936
3Smith, Alfred E. Jr., 1928-1962

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box
13-14, 18, FramedPublications, 1927-1981
Extent (62 items)
This series was created from a box of publications which Bernrieder kept together. There are two sub-series: Miscellaneous and USS Houston. The publications in the Miscellaneous sub-series relate primarily to Houston history, the Port of Houston, and a book on Edmund W. Starling. Other smaller pamphlets and clippings will be found in other series.
The USS Houston sub-series includes pamphlets on the USS Houston as well as books and other published materials which discuss the Asiatic Fleet and the U.S. Navy.
BoxFolder
134Miscellaneous--Brief History of the Texas Navies, 1961
5Miscellaneous--Houston and Cotton, 1949
Box
18Miscellaneous--Oversize
BoxFolder
136Miscellaneous--Port of Houston, undated
7Miscellaneous--Ports of the Americas, 1961
8Miscellaneous--Starling of the White House, 1946
9Miscellaneous--Starling of the White House--Correspondence, 1978-1979
10Miscellaneous--The Texas Navy, 1968
11Miscellaneous-The Twenty-five Flags of Texas, 1962
12Miscellaneous--West Point Glee Club, 1979
13USS Houston--The Builder, 1927
14USS Houston--Cruiser Special, 1929
BoxFolder
141USS Houston--House Resolution 11681, 1936
2USS Houston--Houston, 1945
3USS Houston--Launching SSN-713 Houston, 1981
4USS Houston--Launching SSN-713 Houston, 1981
5USS Houston--Marine Engineering and Shipping Age, 1929
6USS Houston--Presidential Cruise, 1934
Box
FramedUSS Houston--Report on the USS Houston
BoxFolder
147USS Houston--Shipyard Bulletin, 1962
8USS Houston--Shipyard Bulletin, 1963
9USS Houston--USS Houston: Ghost of the Java Coast, 1971
10USS Houston--USS Houston: Ghost of the Java Coast, 1971

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boxfolder
1411-19USS Texas, 1937-1980
Extent (108 items)
This small series relates to the USS Texas. Materials include clippings, correspondence, and publications which discuss the USS Texas. Most of the material deals with the addition of the USS Texas to the San Jacinto Battlefield.
BoxFolder
1411Clippings, undated
12Commission, 1977
13Correspondence, 1974-1979
14Miscellaneous, 1936-1978
15Photograph, undated
16Program, 1980
17Publications, 1975-1977
18Publications, 1977
19Publications, undated

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boxfolder
151-23Miscellaneous, 1917-1988
Extent (365 items)
These materials were not with other subject files and did not readily fall into available subject files. The majority of the materials in this series relate to a group of lithographs created by Judith Ann Saks of the Port of Houston, which were distributed throughout the country.
BoxFolder
151Brief for Naval Base, 1917
2Goodwill, 1978-1988
3Hirsch, Maurice, 1975-1980
4Houston, Andrew Jackson, 1928-1981
5Houston Public Library, 1975
6Pamphlets, undated
7Pamphlets, undated
8Photographs--Reagan, Ronald and Gerald Ford, undated
9Port of Houston Lithographs--Correspondence, 1976
10Port of Houston Lithographs--Correspondence, 1977
11Port of Houston Lithographs--Correspondence, 1977
12Port of Houston Lithographs--Correspondence, 1977
13Port of Houston Lithographs--Correspondence, 1978
14Port of Houston Lithographs--Correspondence, 1979
15Port of Houston Lithographs--Correspondence, undated
16Port of Houston Lithographs--Miscellaneous, 1977
17Port of Houston Lithographs--Miscellaneous, 1977
18Port of Houston Lithographs--Miscellaneous, 1977
19Port of Houston Lithographs--Photographs, undated
20Port of Houston Lithographs--Photographs, undated
21Scrapbook Pages, 1936
22Ship Sponsoring, 1929-1959
23Texas Information, 1957-1980

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