Steve Berman Papers
Coll2012.141
Finding aid prepared by Erick Hawkins
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
© 2012
Title: Steve Berman Papers
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.141
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.5 linear feet.
1 archive box + 2 archive cartons + 1 shoebox
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1980-1983
Date (inclusive): 1964-1983
Abstract: The Steve Berman papers are a collection of notes, correspondence, and personal information created and maintained by the
psychologist and activist in the 1970s and 1980s. The bulk of the collection, from 1980-83, chronicles Berman’s life during
and after college as he pursued his career in psychology and worked for greater rights and recognition for the gay and Jewish
communities.
creator:
Berman, Steve, 1946-1983
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Community Service and Activism
Series 2. Personal Life, Academics, and Medical Beliefs
Biography
Steven Phillip Berman was born August 21, 1946 in Illinois and grew up in the greater Chicago area. After graduation from
high school, Berman obtained a B.A. in psychology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1970. Relocating
later that year, Berman began work on his M.A. in psychology at California State University, Long Beach. While at CSULB, Berman
founded the Gay Students Union and the Gay Students Council of Southern California, often speaking at local colleges and universities.
As a graduate student, Berman focused his studies on personality and ability testing, working with prominent lesbian psychologist
Betty Berzon. In 1973, prior to completion of his degree, Berman underwent neurosurgery for removal of an arteriovenous malformation.
This surgery left Berman with seizures and other neurological conditions that would plague him the rest of his life.
During his schooling and for some time after, Berman worked for several Southern California agencies involved with general
mental health and gay support services, including the newly founded Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center where he worked
with parolees reentering the workforce. Berman moved to the San Francisco Bay area around 1981, continuing his social services
work and becoming increasingly involved with Jewish organizations and congregations. As a member of Jews for Social Responsibility
and later the Jewish Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights, Berman lobbied the San Francisco community for increased awareness
of Middle East conflicts and for greater rights for lesbians and gays in the Bay Area.
Berman’s most notable work was as a case manager for North of Market Multipurpose Senior Services in the early 1980s. Berman
worked with gay seniors, frequently referencing them to gay and lesbian organizations in the area for specialized attention
and support. He also worked with San Francisco City Hall to clarify policy for city employees, seeking (and winning) grievance
rights for same-sex partners of city and county employees.
Berman died on July 17, 1983, collapsing after completing a race to raise funds for HIV/AIDS research.
Sources: Steve Berman Papers, Coll2012-141, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are limited access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Acquisition Information
Date of acquisition unknown.
Preferred Citation
Box #, folder #, Steve Berman Papers, Coll2012.141, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern
California
Processing Information
Formerly housed in box 103-15. Collection processed by Erick Hawkins, November 2012.
Scope and Content
The bulk of the collection, from 1980-1983, chronicles Berman’s life during and after college as he pursued his career in
psychology and social services. The specific areas of his work involve gay and lesbian senior services, Jewish community groups,
and psychological studies of the homosexual population. The collection includes personal and professional correspondence,
medical records, newspaper and magazine articles and photographs.
Separated Materials Note
Removed to newsletter collection:
Center News, circa 1980;
Center NewsVolume 2, Issue 1, 1982
Removed to poster collection: Gay and Lesbian Community Service Center
Now We Need You Even More
Removed to manuscripts: Seaman, Maida Joan (1974)
The Effect of Sex and Sexual Preference Upon Sex-Role Attitudes; Pinka, Allan T. (1974)
Self-Disclosure of Sexual Orientation and Psychological Functioning in Gay Males
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gay activists--United States--California
Gay and lesbian rights--United States--California
Homosexuality--Psychological aspects
Jewish gays
Social work with gays
Community Service and Activism
Series 1.
Bulk, 1980-1983
1972-1983
Scope and Contents Note
This series documents Berman's work with the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center in Los Angeles and gay and Jewish support
services in the San Francisco Bay Area, with specific emphasis on care and rights for gay seniors, domestic partnership, and
Jews for Social Responsibility. Included are correspondence, personal notes, news clippings, and formal papers on gay psychology.
Folders contain subject file information unless otherwise specified.
Arrangement
The files are arranged in chronological order.
Box 1, Folder 1
Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center, correspondence
1972-1975
Box 1, Folder 2
Association of Gay Psychologists, correspondence
1972-1975
Box 1, Folder 3
Association of Gay Psychologists, newsletters
1973-1975
Box 2, Folder 1
Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center, correspondence
1975
Box 2, Folder 2-4
Clippings, Gay Issues and HIV/AIDS
Bulk, 1980-1983
1975-1983
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Box 2, Folder 6-7
Clippings, Israel-Palenstian conflict
1978-1982
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 3, Folder 1
Clippings, Jewish issues
1978, undated
Box 1, Folder 4
Tribue to Ivy Bottini
1980
Box 1, Folder 6
Jewish organizations, correspondence
1981-1983
Box 1, Folder 7
North of Market Senior Services
1981-1983, undated
Box 3, Folder 2
North of Market Senior Services
1981-1983, undated
Box 2, Folder 8
Brochures
1981-1983, undated
Box 1, Folder 8
Congregation Sha'ar Zahav
1982
Box 2, Folder 9
Board of Supervisors, San Francisco
1982
Box 1, Folder 9
Lesbian and Gay Jewish Activities
1982
Box 1, Folder 10
Domestic partnership, Morris Kight
1982
Box 1, Folder 11
Domestic partnership, opposition
1982
Box 2, Folder 10
Seniors' rights
1982, undated
Box 1, Folder 12
Jews for Social Responsibility
1982, undated
Box 3, Folder 3
Judaism, general
1982-1983
Box 1, Folder 13
Gay and lesbian senior lover grievance
1982-1983
Box 3, Folder 4
Tenderloin outreach project
1982-1983
Box 2, Folder 11
Jewish Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights
1983
Box 1, Folder 15
Congregation Ahavat Shalom
1983
Box 1, Folder 16
Gay and lesbian elders
1983, undated
Box 1, Folder 17
Domestic partnership legislation, drafts
1983, undated
Box 1, Folder 18
Project confrontation youth
undated
Box 2, Folder 12
Gay services case conference
undated
Box 1, Folder 19
A Night at the Olympics, photographs
undated
Physical Characteristics Note
(6) 3x5" photographs, one typewritten note on context.
Scope and Contents Note
Photographs are external views of the Headlines Theater marquee.
Personal Life, Academics, and Medical Beliefs
Series 2.
Bulk, 1970-1983
1964-1983
Scope and Contents Note
The bulk of this series comprises transcripts, papers, and tests from Berman's school years; personal medical records from
his hospital visits; and personal correspondence, resumes, financial information, and job applications. The series also contains
clippings and articles from trade papers regarding the rights of patients. Along with these clippings are his personal notes,
professional correspondence, and psychological case studies.
Arrangement
The files are arranged in chronological order.
Box 1, Folder 20
The Fox and Farmer Jones, poem
1964
Box 1, Folder 21
Checkbook registers
Bulk, 1964-1980
1964-1980
Box 1, Folder 22
Probation officer, correspondence
1968-1970, 1973
Box 1, Folder 23
California State University Long Beach, coursework
1970-1972
Box 1, Folder 24
Personal correspondence
Bulk, 1981-1983
1970-1983, undated
Box 3, Folder 5-7
Personal correspondence
Bulk, 1981-1983
1970-1983, undated
Box 1, Folder 25
Academic transcripts
1971-1973
Box 1, Folder 26-27
California State University Long Beach, coursework
1972-1973, undated
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 1, Folder 28
Tax records
Bulk, 1972-1977
1972-1977
Box 4
Day planners
1972-1980
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
(8) day planners.
Box 1, Folder 30
M.A. and Ph.D applications
1973
Box 1, Folder 31
Association of Humanistic Psychology, correspondence
1975
Box 1, Folder 32
Department of Motor Vehicles, correspondence
1976-1979
Box 3, Folder 8
Financial management
1979-1981
Box 1, Folder 33
Collection case, Mr. and Mrs. Martinez
1980
Box 1, Folder 34
Patients notes
1980-1983, undated
Physical Description:
Contains restricted material.
Box 1, Folder 35
Patients' rights, general
1980-1983, undated
Box 1, Folder 36-37
Hospital records
1981
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 2, Folder 13
Job applications
1981-1983, undated
Box 1, Folder 39
Job evaluations and memorandum
Bulk, 1981-1983
1975-1976, 1981-1983
Box 1, Folder 40
Personal greeting cards
1981-1983, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Contains (1) metallic butterfly lapel pin from G.S. Brisson.
Box 1, Folder 41
Photographs
1981-1983
Physical Characteristics Note
(85) 3x5" photographs, (6) 4x6" photograph, (5) 5x7" photographs, (1) wallet-sized photograph, (1) cardboard montage of four
wallet-sized photographs, and (25) strips of negatives.
Scope and Contents Note
Photographs and negatives contain portraits of individuals and groups. Titles of photograph envelopes include "Winter 82-83,"
"NOM Retreat 5/83," "Israeli Independence Day, 5/2/82," and "Halloween at NOM, 10/30/81" along with unlabeled photographs.
Box 2, Folder 14
Patients' rights, electroshock
1982, undated
Box 2, Folder 15
Professional memos and correspondence
1983, undated
Box 2, Folder 16
General social services
1983, undated
Box 1, Folder 42
Psychiatry and mental health notes
undated
Box 1, Folder 43-44
Growth Group Plus
undated
Physical Description:
[2 folders]
Box 2, Folder 17
Psychiatry and mental health notes
undated
Box 2, Folder 18
Gay growth groups
undated
Box 3, Folder 10
HIV/AIDS documents
1983, undated