Descriptive Summary
Berler, Beatrice.
Beatrice (Beady) Berler Papers
1960-1998Materials are primarily in English, with some materials in Spanish.
MS 54
1.6 linear feet (about 1200 items)
Archives and Special
Collections Department, The University of
Texas at San Antonio Library.
Beatrice Berler (Beady) was an author, translator, and President and Trustee of the Brandeis University National Women's Committee from 1971 to 1973. She founded and led the San Antonio chapter of the Brandeis University National Women's Committee, overseeing the annual book sale and the Books to Prisons program. She was also involved with Friends of the San Antonio Public Library. Berler authored one book, The Conquest of Mexico: A Modern Rendering of William H. Prescott's History, and translated many others.
The Beatrice (Beady) Berler Papers span the years 1960-1998 and document her work with Friends of San Antonio Public Library and Brandeis University National Women's Committee programs. Materials include correspondence, clippings, book excerpts, scrapbooks, biographical information, college papers, awards, and photographs.
Biographical Note
Beatrice Adele Beady Berler was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Max and Clary (Bichman) Goldenblank on May 10, 1915. She moved to Texas when she was a young woman and married Albert Berler on May 15, 1945. She helped him with his construction business until she became a student at Trinity University. She graduated from Trinity University in 1960 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in history, and in 1963 received her Master of Arts in Foreign Language, also at Trinity.
In the 1950s, Brandeis University asked Jewish women from around the country to help create a library collection. The National Women's Committee was comprised of 65 chapters around the United States, with the chapter in San Antonio being led by Beatrice Berler. Berler also served as the President and Trustee of the National Women's Committee from 1971-1973. Every year the San Antonio chapter would hold a used and antique book sale every to benefit the Brandeis University Library.
In 1972, after hearing a complaint that the prisoners at the El Paso Federal Prison did not have anything to read, Berler donated books to the prison. Hearing that those books weren't the type they wanted to read she sent more books, this time science fiction novels, mysteries, action novels, and other popular fiction. With that success she began to do the same at other prisons around the nation. Berler persuaded publishers from New York to donate to this program. She also donated Spanish books to the program for those who could not read English.
Later on in her life, Berler helped the library raise a total of $170,000 by suggesting that the city mail out library donation envelopes with City Public Service (CPS Energy) bills. After achieving this fundraising success, Mayor Henry Cisneros named Beatrice an official Benefactor of the City of San Antonio.
Berler was also an author and translator. She wrote
The Conquest of Mexico: A Modern Rendering of William H. Prescott's History in 1988 and translated Azuela La Veracidad Historica in 1966. She co-translated several other works.Berler died September 11, 2000.
Sources:
Who's Who in the South and Southwest, 25th edition. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who [etc].
Batiste, Amy.Professional Bookworm Shares Love of Reading.Texas Sesquicentennial. p. 41.
Lindee, Susan.A Book's Best Friend, Beady Berler has a Novel Idea for Those Who Like to Read.San Antonio Light, April 8, 1984: 26.
Scope and Content Note
The collection spans the years 1960-1998 and the bulk of the material includes clippings, correspondence, book excerpts, scrapbooks, biographical information, college papers, awards, and photographs that document the life and career of Beatrice Beady Berler.
The collection is divided into three series: Personal Files, Career Files, and Photographs.
The Personal Files series includes biographical material, correspondence, college research papers, and a commencement program.
The Career Files series includes awards, scrapbooks, correspondence, clippings, and a program. The series documents Berler's work on various book projects, as well as civic projects with the Brandeis University National Women's Committee and Friends of the San Antonio Public Library.
The Photographs series includes photographs of Beatrice Berler. In one photograph, Berler is pictured with Lady Bird Johnson, in another Berler is pictured alone, and other photographs are from an awards ceremony.
Organization of Collection
- Series 1. Personal Files
- Series 2. Career Files
- 2.1. Projects
- 2.1.1. Book Projects
- 2.1.2. Brandeis University National Women's Committee
- 2.1.3. Friends of the San Antonio Public Library
- 2.2. Awards
- 2.3. Scrapbooks
- 2.4. Other Material
- Series 3. Photographs
Access Restrictions
Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing photographic materials. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on these materials.
Usage Restrictions
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be obtained from Archives and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Beatrice (Beady) Berler Papers, 1960-1998, MS 54, Archives
and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio Library.
Acquisition Information
Received from Beatrice Berler in February 1997
(Acc. 1997-007), March 1999 (Acc. 1999-004), March 1999 (Acc. 1999-005), May 1999 (Acc. 1999-027).
Processing Information
Processed by Tatina Wulzer, Collections Assistant, April 2008.
Index Terms
Personal Names
Berler, Beatrice.
Organizations
Brandeis University National Women's Committee.
Friends of the San Antonio Public Library.
Subjects
Libraries and prisons.
Women in charitable work--Texas--San Antonio.
Women authors, American--20th century.
Locations
San Antonio (Tex.)--History--20th century.
Genres/Formats
Correspondence.
Clippings.
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.
Awards.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Personal Files,
1960-1998 and undated
Includes biographical material, correspondence, college papers, and other materials.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material.
1
1
Biographical material, 1996-1998
1
2-3
College papers,
1960-1963 and undated
1
4
Commencement program,
May 30, 1960
1
5
Correspondence,
1995-1998
Career Files,
1963-1998 and undated
This series includes awards, scrapbooks, correspondence, clippings, and a program. The series also documents Berler's work on various book projects, as well as civic projects with the Brandeis University National Women's Committee and Friends of the San Antonio Public Library.
Arranged into four subseries: Projects, Awards, Scrapbooks, and Other Materials, and chronologically thereafter.
Projects, 1964-1997
16The Conquest of Mexico: A Modern Rendering of William H. Prescott's History materials, 1988-1997 and undated17Book translations, 1966 and undated18Annual book sale, 1973-199619-10Books to prisons program -- correspondence and clippings, 1964-1984, 1985-1987, undated111Friends of the San Antonio Public Library,
1987-1989 and undated
Awards,1963-1994 The Awards subseries includes awards she received and other information about the Brotherhood Awards Banquet and the Harold Vagtbord award.
OM1Awards,1963-1964, 198021-2Awards,1984-1994 23Scrapbooks,1987-198824Other materials,1970-1998 and undatedIncludes clippings, correspondence, and ribbons from Brandeis University National Women's Committee.
Photographs,1977, 1988-1991, and undatedComprises photographs of Beatrice Berler. In one photograph, Berler is pictured with Lady Bird Johnson, in another Berler is pictured alone, and other photographs are from an awards ceremony.
Photographs are arranged chronologically.
25Photographs,1977, 1988-1991, and undated