The Philip I. and Muriel M. Berman Papers: Collection I
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SERIES I.A Letters by Philip I. Berman
Philip Berman was a prolific writer of letters. He did not type, but dictated. Beginning in 1987, when his secretary, Janet Heffner, started using a computer for correspondence, many letters were saved on disks, and not on paper. In 1999, when Lehigh University began the project of arranging the collection, Mrs. Heffner took on the arduous task of printing out the various files of correspondence on acid-free paper, while she still had access to computers old enough to do the job. The result is a record of great value to the researcher.
The letters have been kept in the subject categories in which they were stored, and in general the categories have been kept in the order in which they were received at Lehigh University. Within each category the order in which the letters were printed has been retained; this order is usually, but not always, chronological. The titles of the categories are mostly taken from the labels provided by Mrs. Heffner.
Besides the texts of letters, the printouts occasionally include texts of speeches, and lists of artwork. The printouts occupy all the folders from Box 1, folder 1 through Box 4, folder 7. Box 4 folder 8 contains a few copies of faxes from October of 1997; these were not printed out from disks, but were received separately.
Voluminous though this correspondence is, the researcher should be warned that it is only the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the rest of the Berman Collection, interfiled with related papers, are countless other letters by Philip Berman and Muriel Berman, preserved as carbon copies or photocopies or faxed originals. Subseries A of Series 1 is therefore no more than a valuable sample of the Bermans' vast output of letters relating to the great variety of their projects and interests.
Box 1
Folders
1 Miscellaneous Letters: 1992-1996 (a)
2 Miscellaneous Letters: 1992-1996 (b)
3 Miscellaneous Letters: 1992-1996 (c)
4 Miscellaneous Letters: 1992-1996 (d)
5 Miscellaneous Letters: 1992-1996 (e)
6 Santa Fe: 1992
7 Peter Murray: 1992-1993
8 Peter Murray: 1993
9 Peter Murray: 1993-1995
10 Florida: 1988-1994
11 Florida: 1994-1996
12 Various Art Correspondence: 1988-1989
13 Various Art Correspondence: 1989
14 Various Art Correspondence: 1990-1992
15 Various Art Correspondence: 1993
16 Various Art Correspondence: 1994
17 Various Art Correspondence: 1994-1995
18 Various Art Correspondence: 1995-1997
19 France: 1989
20 American Jewish Committee: 1990-1993
21 American Jewish Committee: 1993-1996
22 American Friends of the Hebrew University: 1990-1997
23 Lloyd's of London: 1991-1993
24 Lloyd's of London: 1994-1998
25 Henry Moore: 1987-1995
26 France: 1994-1996
27 France -- Barnes Exhibit: 1993
Box 2
Folders
1 Italy: 1993-1997
2 Israel: 1992-1993
3 Israel: 1993-1994
4 Israel: 1994
5 Israel: 1994-1997
6 Bill Clinton: 1992-1993
7 Vancouver and Alaska: 1992
8 Hadassah -- Israel and New York: 1992-1994
9 DBA Fleetways: 1988-1992
10 DBA Fleetways -- Lots 3-8: 1987-1992
11 England: 1989-1996
12 Joan Miro Art: 1987
13 Lehigh University: 1988-1998
14 Israel: 1987
15 State System: 1988-1990
16 Nancy Berman: 1990-1991
17 Philadelphia Museum of Art: 1989-1990
18 Philadelphia Museum of Art: 1991
19 Philadelphia Museum of Art: 1992
20 Pennsylvania Public Television Network: 1989-1995
21 Sculpture Workshop: 1993-1995
22 Lynn Chadwick Sculpture Dedication, Jerusalem: 1987-1991
23 Lehigh University Sculpture: 1990
Box 3
Folders
1 Gregorian University: 1995
2 Gregorian University: 1995-1999
3 Jerusalem: 1990-1991
4 Jewish Publication Society: 1987-1997
5 Jewish Studies: 1989-1992
6 Jewish Studies: 1992-1993
7 Jewish Studies: 1993-1994
8 Jewish Studies: 1994-1996
9 QEII: 1996
10 Sculpture Gifts: 1993-1995
11 State System: 1991-1998
12 Ursinus College: 1987-1989
13 Ursinus College: 1990-1992
14 Ursinus College: 1993-1994
15 Ursinus College: 1994
16 Ursinus College: 1994-1998
17 Philadelphia Museum of Art: 1993-1994
18 Philadelphia Museum of Art: 1994
19 Philadelphia Museum of Art: 1995
20 Philadelphia Museum of Art: 1996-1998
Box 4
Folders
1 Trexler Trust: 1996
2 Paper Mill Museum: 1994
3 Paper Mill Museum: 1994-1995
4 Miscellaneous: 1992-1994
5 Miscellaneous: 1994-1995
6 Miscellaneous: 1995-1996
7 Miscellaneous: 1996-1997
8 Fax Copies: 1997
SERIES I.B Odysseys
The frequent and far-flung travels of Philip and Muriel Berman occasioned numerous letters home, such as the sequence filed in Series V.A under the years 1957-1958 (Box 185, Folder 18), when the Bermans traveled in Africa. In. 1963-1964, Philip Berman began the practice of duplicating such letters for circulation to friends, and in 1966 his letter of May 6 was first titled an "Odyssey" -- the term he and many others subsequently used for all his narrative reports of travels. In Series I.B the Odysseys (dating from 1963 through 1996) are filed in chronological order; all are photocopies of typescripts or computer printouts except for the original typescript under the date July 6, 1969, and the draft in Philip Berman's hand of the August 4, 1989 Odyssey. There are some 82 separate Odysseys in this file, totaling approximately 1,000 leaves, many with text on both sides. In the following list, the date given for each Odyssey is usually the date recorded at or near the beginning of the text. When an Odyssey has a distinctive title, the title is entered after the date. A note of the places described is given in parentheses, with occasional supplementary descriptive notes.
Box 4
Folders
9 Odysseys: 1963 Dec. 29 (Germany, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii)
10 Odysseys: 1964 Aug. 3 (Brazil, Argentina)
11 Odysseys: 1966 May 6 (Rumania, Yugoslavia, Ethiopia)
12 Odysseys: 1966 July 3 (Israel, Greece, Italy, France)
1966 Sept.30 (Japan)
13 Odysseys: 1967 July 10 (Geneva, Paris)
14 Odysseys: 1968 Feb.18 (Spain, England)
1968 June 24 (London)
1968 June 28 (London, Cannes)
15 Odysseys: 1969 Jan. 23 (Madrid, Paris, London)
1969 July 4 (Israel, Greece, Yugoslavia, Rome)
1969 July 6 (Israel; original typescript)
1969 Dec. 21 (Vienna, London)
16 Odysseys: 1970 March 27 (Paris, Jerusalem, Rome, Tokyo, Kyoto)
1970 July 16 (Greece, France)
17 Odysseys: 1971 Feb.8 The Gansa Megilla (Israel)
1972 Jan. 29 (Israel)
1972 May 1 (England, Ireland)
1972 June 23 (Washington, D.C.)
1972 Sept. 16 (Belgium, France)
1972 Nov. 9 (California)
18 Odysseys: 1973 Jan. 11 A View from the Top...Mt. Everest (India, Nepal)
1973 Oct. 28 Log of the Israel Bond Emergency Delegation to Israel (Israel; with copy of a letter from Michael Arnon [Nov. 26, 1973?])
19 Odysseys: 1974 May 10 (Italy, England)
1974 July 17 (England)
[1975 Feb.?] The Quest (Israel; with Addendum: Lunch at the U.N., Feb. 7, 1975)
20 Odysseys: 1975 April 22 (China, Japan, Kashmir, India, France)
[1975] Aug. 2 (Israel)
[1975] Oct. 19 Caravan through the Holy Lands with Muriel and Phil --
Stopping at the Caravanseri's of Tiberias and Jerusalem (Israel)
[1976?] May 5 (Israel)
[1976 June 2] (Leningrad)
21 Odysseys: [1977?] The Hebrew University (Israel)
1977 July A Very Cultural Experience (Russia, Mongolia, China, Japan)
1977 Dec. 15 (China; with copy of letter from Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., who
may be the author of this Odyssey)
1977 Dec.16 Luncheon with H.E. Mr. Abdel Halim Badawi (New York?)
22 Odysseys: [1978?] Persian Nights and Dusty Days (Israel, Iran)
[1978?] South Seas Odyssey (Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji)
[1978?] NRMA/KBG/ART Odyssey (Russia, Sweden, France)
Box 5
Folders
1 Odysseys: 1978 Jan. 22 (Israel; with copy of speech by Prime Minister Menachem
Begin)
1978 Jan. 30 (Israel)
1978 Feb. 13 Up the Down Nile and Back (Egypt, Jordan, Israel)
2 Odysseys: 1978 April (London, Paris, Amsterdam)
[1979 July] The Class of '79 -- Berman-Jackson-Kissinger (Israel, England)
1979 Nov. 17 36 Hours to Sinai (Egypt and Mount Sinai)
3 Odysseys: 1980 April 27 The Gentleman from Verona (Israel, Italy)
1980 May 28 To the Orient and Back (Japan, Hong Kong, Bali, Indonesia,
Sri Lanka, France, England)
1980 Nov. 2 To Lloyd's and Back (England, France)
4 Odysseys: 1982 June 24 Muriel's Installation, Doctor of Philosophy, Honoris Causa
(Israel, London)
1982 Nov. 27 On the Road to Morocco (Israel, Morocco)
5 Odysseys: 1983 Jan. 23 A Visit with the Prime Minister (Israel, England)
1983 June 25 To Los Angeles the Hard Way (Israel, England)
[1983?] Dec. 21 A Holiday in Rome (England, Italy)
6 Odysseys: 1984 Jan. Meeting Muriel at the Ritz (Israel, Portugal)
1984 June 30 Here We Go Again (Israel, Italy, France, England,
Switzerland)
1984 Dec. How Can We Top This? (Nice, Rome, London, Vienna,
Barcelona)
7 Odysseys: 1986 March 23 An Easter Holiday (England, Israel, France)
1986 June 16 To Jerusalem and Back (Israel)
1986 Sept. 1 (England, Israel)
8 Odysseys: 1987 Jan. 12 A Cold Day in England (England, Israel)
1987 May Israel Diary (Israel; co-authored by PIB and nine others)
1987 June 28 Sculpture, No Doubt! (Germany, Holland, England, France)
9 Odysseys: 1987 Nov. Glasnost 1987 -- Perestroika, Hopefully! (Finland, Denmark,
Russia, England)
1988 June 16 The Venice Delights (Canada, Israel, Italy)
10 Odysseys: [1989?] (Israel)
1989 June English Delights (England)
1989 Aug. 4 The French Connection (Spain, France, Monaco)
11 Odysseys: 1989 Aug. 4 The French Connection (handwritten draft)
12 Odysseys: 1990 May 31 The Hebrew University Board Meeting (Israel)
1992 Sept. 16 To Visit the Queen (England)
1993 March 9 200 Sculptures a Day (United States)
1993 Sept. 3 A Visit with President Mitterand (Paris)
13 Odysseys: 1993 Dec.17 Bon Journo -- Rebecca's Visit to Italy (Italy)
1994 June 8 Back to Israel Again (Israel)
1994 Sept. 8 A Surprise a Minute (Israel)
14 Odysseys: [1995] (Italy, Hawaii, California; fragments)
1995 Feb. 3 A Weekend in Rome (Rome)
1995 Feb. 21 Hawaii Revisited (Hawaii, California)
15 Odysseys: 1995 March 26 Square One (Rome, Jerusalem, Paris)
1995 May 11 Off to Beverly Hills (Los Angeles)
1995 Sept. Off to Paris (France, England)
1996 June 8 Michelangelo and Rodin (Italy, France)
SERIES I.C Manuscripts
In this subseries are included texts for talks by Philip Berman and by Muriel Berman on art, art collecting, and business, together with assorted notes by them on other topics and a draft of their 1989 introduction to Sculpture in the Park (see Series VII.A Box 200 Folder 3). Appreciations both typed and printed of their work are included among the Manuscripts about Philip Berman; in this group is an offprint from the Congressional Record publishing the speech delivered by Fred Rooney on April 4, 1968. Most of the Manuscripts by Others are on Jewish topics; among the authors are Alan H. Luxenberg, Amos Elon, Joseph Dan, Irving Bernstein, Michael A. Signer, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, and Conor Cruise O'Brien.
Box 5
Folders
16 Manuscripts by Philip I. Berman: 1965-1971
17 Manuscripts by Philip I. Berman: 1973-1989
18 Manuscripts by Muriel M. Berman: 1977-1995
19 Manuscripts about Philip I. Berman: 1960-1978
20 Manuscripts about Philip I. Berman: 1980-1985
21 Manuscripts by Others – Miscellaneous: 1975-1990
22 Manuscripts by Others – Jewish Topics: 1994-1995
23 Manuscripts by Others – Jewish Topics: 1995 March
24 Manuscripts by Others – Jewish Topics: 1995 March - 1996
Overview | I. A-C. | I. D. | I. E-F. | I. G-H. | II. | III. A-D. | III. E-G. | IV. | V. | VI. | VII-VIII. | IX. | PDF Version