- unitid
-
{"value"=>"17795", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1924-1984", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1924/1984"}
{"value"=>"1951-1969", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1951/1969"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1924
- date_inclusive_end
-
1984
- keydate
-
1924
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"New York Times Company records. Theodore M. Bernstein papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2.52 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"6 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. <span class=\"subarea\">Manuscripts and Archives Division</span></span> <div class=\"address\"><span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Theodore M. Bernstein (1904-1979) was a longtime editor at <span class=\"title\">The New York Times</span>, a professor at the Columbia University School of Journalism, and the author of several books on editing and journalism. This collection primarily documents Bernstein's tenure as assistant managing editor at <span class=\"title\">The Times</span> between 1952 and 1969. Present are letters, memoranda, and clippings, the bulk of which deal with Bernstein's views on style, language, and the appearance of <span class=\"title\">The Times</span>. The papers also contain photographs of Bernstein and his family, a scrapbook of news-related cables he received from the government during World War II, a small amount of writings from his early career, and some correspondence from the end of his career."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>New York Times Company records. Theodore M. Bernstein papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"New York Times Company", "type"=>"corpname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Theodore (Ted) Menline Bernstein (1904-1979) was a longtime editor at <span class=\"title\">The New York Times</span>, a professor at the Columbia University School of Journalism, and an author of several books on editing and journalism. As assistant managing editor, he had great influence on <span class=\"title\">The Times'</span> editing process, particularly around establishing uniformity of English language usage, improving the readability of news stories, and improving the appearance of the paper.</p> <p>Born in New York City, Bernstein graduated from Columbia University in 1924 and from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1925. Later that year, he joined <span class=\"title\">The Times</span> as a copy editor for the City Desk, the department that reported on the New York City region. In 1932, he worked as editor for the Foreign Desk, and became the head of the Foreign Desk in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II. In this role, Bernstein edited all of the stories related to the war, assigned stories to reporters throughout Europe and the Pacific, created headlines (including many of the most important of the war), and expanded the use of maps and graphics in the paper. Bernstein was next promoted to assistant night managing editor in 1948; in this position he not only took on greater responsibility editing news stories, but he also became more involved with the style and appearance of the paper. His influence increased again in 1951 when he became the assistant managing editor, a title he held from 1951 to 1969 under Managing Editors Turner Catledge and E. Clifton Daniel. During this time, Bernstein determined the daily content and visual display of the <span class=\"title\">The Times'</span> front page. He was the unofficial enforcer of stylistic standards, and guided the staff on reporting on, writing, editing, illustrating, and presenting the news. In 1951, he created \"Winners and Sinners,\" a one-sheet publication, distributed to the staff in New York and around the world, which disseminated rules on style by highlighting mistakes and exemplary headlines and passages in recently run stories. Bernstein was also responsible for establishing the International Edition of <span class=\"title\">The Times</span>, which was published in Paris, and was closely involved with changes to typography and layout of the paper. In 1969, he left news editing to become the editorial director of the book division. He retired from <span class=\"title\">The Times</span> in 1972.</p> <p>In addition to his work at <span class=\"title\">The Times</span>, Bernstein also taught copyediting as an assistant professor (1925-1939) and associate professor (1939-1950) at the Columbia University School of Journalism. He wrote seven books on grammar, style, general editing, and journalism, including <span class=\"title\">Headlines and Deadlines: A Manual for Copy Editors</span>, which he coauthored with Robert E. Garst in 1933.</p> <p>He married Beatrice Alexander in 1930. He died in 1979 at age 74.</p> <p>Source: Talese, Gay. <span class=\"title\">The Kingdom and the Power</span>. New York: Ivy Books, 1966.</p>"}
- custodhist
-
{"value"=>"<p>This collection was originally re-housed and organized in 1989 by Charles G. St. Vil of The Times archives staff. The collection was originally 10 boxes (approximately 3.5 linear feet).</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Theodore M. Bernstein papers primarily document Bernstein's tenure as assistant managing editor of <span class=\"title\">The New York Times</span> from 1951 to 1969. The collection contains correspondence, internal memoranda, and clippings that reveal Bernstein's impact on news coverage as a senior editor and his influence on style, English language usage, typography, and layout of <span class=\"title\">The Times</span>. The collection contains only a few records from Bernstein's early career as copy editor, foreign news editor, or assistant night managing editor, including a scrapbook of news-related cables he received from the government during World War II and a small selection of writings and letters to the editor from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Also present are photographs of Bernstein and his family, and some letters and memoranda created during his time as editorial director of the book division from 1969 until his retirement in 1972.</p> <p>These papers are made up of Bernstein's extant working files, the bulk of which are communications with staff members, both reporters and editors, which concern his views on style. Other topics discussed include complaints from writers about changes in their stories by the editing staff in New York, staff assignments, and discussions with other senior editors and the publishers regarding staff performance and the coverage of specific news stories.</p> <p>The collection is divided into two series: I. People and II. Subjects. The People files consist of records pertaining to individuals, while the Subjects files contain items on specific topics and departments. Items germane to two or more people or subjects are often cross-referenced in the finding aid; documents related to specific issues are generally located in subject files rather than the people folders of those involved.</p> <p>For more of Bernstein's internal memoranda and writings, researchers should see the papers of his fellow executive editors, such as E. Clifton Daniel and A.M. Rosenthal.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The New York Times Company records. Theodore M. Bernstein papers are arranged in two series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/17795#c668604'>Series I: People</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1948-1971</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series is made up of files that contain items to, from, or concerning various individuals, primarily <span class=\"title\">New York Times</span> staff members. Many letters are between Bernstein and foreign, national, and New York City-based correspondents. The majority of these contain discussions of style and correct language usage, often accompanied by clippings from <span class=\"title\">The Times</span> or the <span class=\"title\">Winners and Sinners</span> bulletin that illustrated Bernstein's point. Notably, many of his responses take the form of personal advice, rather than directives of <span class=\"title\">Times</span> official policies.</p> <p>Files for executive editors, E. Clifton Daniel, Max Frankel, and A. M. Rosenthal, and for publishers Arthur Hays Sulzberger and Arthur Ochs Sulzberger contain memoranda assessing news coverage and the performance of employees and entire departments. These files also include personal notes. The file for Sunday Editor Lester Markel is particularly extensive and consists of short notes that discuss English language usage and the presentation of news.</p> <p>Files are arranged alphabetically by name. Entries without box and folder numbers cross-reference related material in other files.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/17795#c668665'>Series II: Subjects</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1924-1984</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>4 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series is made up of subject files that are organized (and titled) by topical keywords, columns, departments, or outside organizations. These files touch on almost every aspect of the operations of the News Department, from news coverage and editorial decision making, to the appearance and mechanical production of the paper. Present are Bernstein's frequent communications with editors E. Clifton Daniel, John B. Oakes, Turner Catledge, and Harrison Salisbury, and with publishers Orvil Dryfoos, Arthur Hays Sulzberger, and Arthur Ochs Sulzberger. These consist of discussions related to personnel, staff member performance, promotions, and retirements. The series also contains Bernstein's exchanges with specific departments, including the Cultural News, Make-Up Desk, Picture Desk, Science News, Sports News, and the Sunday Department. Files also contain communications with staff members concerning Bernstein's views on style and proper usage. Other topics discussed include complains from writers about changes in their stories by the editing staff in New York, staff assignments, and issues regarding news coverage.</p> <p>The following are some of the most extensive and information-rich files: the Editorial Policy file contains notes from Bernstein commenting on the daily presentation of the news; the Headlines file documents Bernstein's views on word choice and the appearance of headlines; the Style folder consists of Bernstein's directives establishing newspaper-wide standards; and the Type, Size and Design files include memoranda concerning the size of columns and presentation of maps and feature many notes from Arthur Hays Sulzberger. Also of note are the International Edition files. Bernstein served as the founding editor of the International Edition from 1960 to 1961. This edition, which ran out of Paris, used stories sent from New York by cable and reproduced by teletypesetter. Present is correspondence that concern the creation of the edition and the operation of getting the news from New York to Paris, along with samples of mock-ups for the edition.</p> <p>Of special interest is the file labeled World War II, which contains a scrapbook, compiled by Bernstein, of cables from Director of Censorship Byron Price in Washington to members of the press. These communications debriefed the press on what information was permissible to print. Cable topics range from guidelines on the types of information that is safe to report on, and what details could be useful to the enemy, such as locations of attacks or raids and troop movements. They also warn against expressing optimism on the outcomes of battles in news stories.</p> <p>This series also contains a folder of photographs of Bernstein and his family, and files relating to articles and books written by Bernstein.</p> <p>Files are arranged alphabetically by file title. Entries without box and folder numbers cross-reference related material in other files.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>The New York Times Company records. Theodore M. Bernstein papers are organized in the following series:</p> <ul class=\"list\"> <li>Series I: People, 1948-1971</li> <li>Series II: Subjects, 1924-1984</li></ul>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>New York Times Company, donated 2007.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Compiled by Philip Heslip.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>The order and folder titles, which The Times archives staff imposed on the collection, have been maintained.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Copyright for documents created by New York Times Company principals and staff has been transferred to The New York Public Library.</p>"}
- physloc
-
{"value"=>"MssCol 17795", "type"=>"local_call", "supress_display"=>true}
- extent_statement
-
2.52 linear feet (6 boxes)
- date_start
-
1924
- date_end
-
1984
- date_bulk_start
-
1951
- date_bulk_end
-
1969