Guide to the Papers of Bernard Bernstein
(1928-) 1941-2008

Processed by Yakov Illich Sklar

as part of the Leon Levy Archival Processing Initiative, made possible by the Leon Levy Foundation

Yeshiva University Museum

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16th Street

New York, NY 10011

Phone: (212) 294-8330

Fax: (212) 294-8335

Email: YUMinquiries@cjh.org

URL: http://www.yumuseum.org

© 2008 Yeshiva University Museum. All rights reserved.

Center for Jewish History, Publisher.

Machine-readable finding aid was created by Yakov Illich Sklar as MS-Word document in October 2008. Electronic finding aid was converted to EAD version 2002 by Yakov Illich Sklar in October 2008. Description is in English.

Biographical Note

Bernard Bernstein, jeweler, metal smith, and teacher was born in New York in 1928. He began his academic career at the City College of the City University of New York were he studied industrial arts and received his M.F.A. in Jewelry and Silversmithing from the Rochester Institute of Technology. During that period he also studied with Ludwig Wolpert at The Jewish Museum.

In 1972 Bernard Bernstein earned his PhD from New York University.

He began his teaching career at City College of the City University of New York in the early 1960s where he taught industrial arts and silversmithing. He taught at City College for over 20 years before going to the 92nd Street Y in mid1980s. At the 92nd Street Y he co-directed the Y's Judaica Silversmithing program.

Scope and Content Note

Bernard Bernstein collection documents professional activities of Bernard Bernstein, a jeweler, metal smith, writer, and teacher. The collection includes artifacts, correspondence, documents, manuscripts, printed materials, photographs, other visual materials, and sketches.

The larger part of the collection includes materials dealing with the artistic side of Bernard Bernstein. These materials are found throughout the collection and consist of artifacts produced during his schooling at City College (Series I: Artifacts), various jewelry designs produced by Bernard Bernstein for commercial use (Series III: Designs), certificates and awards (Series V: General), and materials pertaining to a number of shows and exhibits that Bernard Bernstein was a part of (Series IV: Exhibitions and Art Catalogues).

Other materials include documents pertaining to Bernard Bernstein education, professional carrier as a teacher ( Series II: City College of the City University of New York, Series V: General), and his articles in professional journals (Series VI: Printed Materials).

In some cases materials are accompanied by Bernard Bernstein’s notes explaining the significance and provenance of the documents.

Arrangement

This collection is devided into 6 series:

• Series I: Artifacts, circa 1954-1970s
• Series II: City College of the City University of New York, 1948-2008
• Series III: Designs, 1954-2008
• Series IV: Exhibitions and Art Catalogues, 1962-2008
• Series V: General, 1941-2008
• Series VI: Printed Materials, 1960-2007

Access and Use

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:
Yeshiva University Museum, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
email: YUMinquiries@cjh.org

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); Bernard Bernstein Archive; collection number; box number; folder number; Yeshiva University Museum.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Bernard Bernstein in 2008.

Access Points

• Individuals:

  • Bernstein, Bernard, 1928-

• Organizations:

  • City University of New York. City College

• Subjects:

  • Jewelry making
  • Jewish art metal-work
  • Jewish artists--United States

• Places:

  • New York (N.Y.)

• Document Types:

  • Artifacts
  • Clippings
  • Correspondence
  • Documents
  • Manuscripts
  • Photographs

Container List