Bernard Berlyn papers

Collection

Call Number: MS 1005

Scope and Contents

The papers of Bernard Berlyn consist largely of birthday greetings (1921-1928), including a holograph letter from Eugene V. Debs. There are also photographs, lectures, autobiographical reminiscences, clippings on Chicago socialist activities, and miscellaneous printed matter.

Dates

1884-1930

Creator

Berlyn, Bernard, 1843-1928

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the Bernard Berlyn estate.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1005

Additional Description

Overview

Biographical / Historical

Bernard (Barney) Berlyn was born in Amsterdam, Holland on February 7, 1843. In 1850 his family emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. After finishing primary school, Berlyn became a cigar maker, and joined the first cigar maker's union in 1863.

In the same year, he moved to Chicago where he became active in the Chicago Federation of Labor. A life-long member of the Socialist Party, Berlyn was a candidate for Congress on the Socialist ticket in several elections. In 1913 he ran for the senate and was the first socialist candidate to receive votes in Illinois. He was also a member of the national executive committee of the socialist party from 1901-07, a national committee man from 1901-08, and a delegate to the national conventions of 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1920.

Berlyn's work as a labor organizer brought him into contact with Clarence Darrow, Norman Thomas, Eugene V. Debs, Lucy Parsons, and other liberal leaders. He was co-author, with William S. McGuire, of the book Why Workers Should Join the Socialist Party .

Barney Berlyn died in 1928 at the age of eighty-five.