Papers of Beatrice Sobel Burstein, 1928-2001 (inclusive), 1954-1991 (bulk)

This collection documents Burstein's career as Commissioner of Corrections in New York State, advocate for prisoners' rights, and judge on New York's District, Family, and Supreme Courts. Relatively little personal material is included. The collection includes speeches; correspondence (some with prisoners and parolees); scrapbook pages; articles and other publications; certificates; clippings; photographs; an audiotape; videotapes; and a phonograph record. Most of the folder headings were created by the processor; those created by Burstein appear in quotation marks.

Additional material received in 2019 (accession number 2019-M79) was added to the collection in September 2021. These materials are housed in #15.5-15.6 and PD.8-PD.10. All other files remain in the same order. Folders are listed in intellectual, not numerical, order.

Series I, BIOGRAPHICAL AND PERSONAL, 1932-2001 (#1.1-3.10, 16F+B.1-17F+B.6, OD.1, Mem.1-Mem.5), contains clippings about Burstein and her family, including husband Herbert, daughters Karen and Ellen, and son John ("Slim Goodbody"); awards and certificates; resumes, and other biographical information. The series is arranged with biographical information, clippings, and scrapbook pages appearing first, followed by an alphabetical arrangement. Personal correspondence, including letters from Burstein's husband and children, is located in Series II.

Series II, CORRESPONDENCE, 1935-1996, undated (#3.11-4.12, 15.5), includes invitations and correspondence with family, friends, and colleagues; correspondence related to Burstein's law practice and involvement with the National Association of Women Lawyers, the Nassau County Women's Bar Association, and several organizations concerned with the rights and well-being of children. The series is arranged chronologically.

Series III, SPEECHES AND WRITINGS, 1954-1994, undated (#4.13-6.13), consists primarily of speeches and articles by Burstein.

Subseries A, Speeches, 1954-1994, undated (#4.13-6.9), includes such topics as "Discipline in the Home," "The Adolescent and the Law," "The Role of Non-Partisan Organizations in Political Affairs," and "Sentencing: A Judge's View." Commencement addresses, speeches on the 1956 presidential campaign, correspondence regarding speaking engagements, and programs for events featuring Burstein are also included, as well as speech fragments. For additional speeches, see #9.7-9.8, and #10.11-10.12. The subseries is arranged chronologically.

Subseries B, Writings, 1962-1981, undated (#6.10-6.13), includes articles focusing primarily on family life and juvenile delinquency. The subseries is arranged chronologically.

Series IV, PROFESSIONAL, 1949-1992 (#6.14-15.4, 15.6, 17F+B.7m), documents Burstein's work as a judge and for prisoners' rights. It is arranged in seven subseries, each arranged chronologically.

Subseries A, New York State Commission of Correction, 1949-1961 (#6.14-8.2), includes meeting minutes, reports of inspections and investigations of correctional facilities, correspondence (some regarding jail conditions and prisoners' mental and physical health), regulations for jail management, and lists of prisons and reformatories.

Subseries B, International Federation of Women Lawyers, 1951-1969, 1990-1991 (#8.3-9.1v, 17F+B.7m), documents Burstein's involvement with the organization. She served as business manager, treasurer, chair of the domestic relations committee, and as a vice president. The subseries includes correspondence, newsletters, conference programs, membership applications, treasurer's reports, and a commemorative canvas attache case from the Federation's 1960 conference. (The organization was also frequently referred to as Federacion International de Abogadas.)

Subseries C, Children's Court campaigns (Nassau County, New York), 1955-1958 (#9.2-10.12), contains correspondence, speeches, press releases, and publicity materials related to Burstein's unsuccessful 1955 and 1958 campaigns for a seat on the Children's Court.

Subseries D, Services for Prisoners' Aid in Nassau and Suffolk (SPANS), 1960-1965 (#11.1-11.15), documents the organization established by Burstein to assist released prisoners in obtaining jobs and housing. It includes correspondence with prisoners and their family members; correspondence regarding halfway houses (including correspondence with Dismas Clark, known as the "hoodlum priest"); and material on an awards luncheon and other programs.

Subseries E, District Court (Nassau County, New York), 1961-1969 (#12.1-12.13, 15.6), includes a small amount of campaign material, a transcript of Burstein's induction ceremony, and correspondence with and about prisoners and parolees.

Subseries F, Family Court (Nassau County, New York), 1963, 1968-1973 (#12.14-13.12), contains material on Burstein's 1963 and 1968 campaigns; a transcript and program for her induction; and correspondence and reports regarding Nassau County's Children's Shelter, regarding cases and complaints, and with and about prisoners and parolees.

Subseries G, New York State Supreme Court, 1971-1992 (#13.13-15.4), includes campaign material; a program and transcript for Burstein's induction; correspondence (including some pertaining to Family Court matters); and material regarding custody issues.

Series V, AUDIOVISUAL, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OVERSIZED, 1928, 1948-1991, undated (Phon-55, T-372.1, Vt-178.1 - Vt-178.2, PD.1-PD.10), contains recorded interviews of Burstein, photographs, scrapbook pages, and other oversized materials.

Subseries A, Audiovisual, 1962, ca.1988-1991, undated (Phon-55, T-372.1, Vt-178.1 - Vt-178.2), consists of recordings of interviews of Burstein and a videotape of a dinner honoring her.

Subseries B, Photographs, 1948-ca.1985, undated (#PD.1-PD.10), includes photographs of Burstein alone (including in judicial robe) and with family and colleagues.

Subseries C, Oversized, 1928, 1954-1987 (#FD.1, 16F+B.1-17F+B.9, OD.1), serves as a shelflist for oversized materials in the collection and includes scrapbook pages, diplomas and certificates, a campaign poster, and other oversized items.

Most of the photographs in this collection are or will be cataloged in VIA, Harvard University's Visual Information Access database. Others, referred to as "uncataloged" photographs, are not of sufficient research interest to warrant cataloging and are simply treated as part of the documents they accompany; they are marked on the back with an asterisk in square brackets [*].