The collection consists primarily of materials relating to Boris Bresler's research on Jews in the Far East, particularly China. He conducted this research for both his personal research projects and for articles for the Igud Yotzei Sin Bulletin of which he was editor from 1996-2000. Also included in this collection are correspondence and materials relating to his publishing company, Benmir Books. There is some personal correspondence and material, but much of the correspondence is embedded in Bresler's research, as he kept in contact with many Jewish people who once lived in China or conducted research on the subject. There are also photographs that depict life in Harbin, China in the 1930s as well as personal photographs from Bresler's time at UC Berkeley, events for Benmir Books, and events for the Igud Yotzei Sin Bulletin.

Boris Bresler was born in 1918 in Manchuria and raised in a Russian émigré Jewish community in Harbin, China. He immigrated to the United States in 1937 and received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley in 1941. He went on to obtain his M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from CalTech in 1946. After graduating from CalTech, he joined the faculty in the Department of Civil Engineering at UC Berkeley where he worked until his retirement in 1978. Following his retirement he took on consulting jobs in engineering and also established Benmir Books in Walnut Creek, a small publishing house specializing in translations, reprints, and original works with Jewish themes. He spent retirement splitting his time between living in Israel and the Bay Area. He also translated Russian prose and poetry into English. While in Israel he became the editor of the English Supplement of Igud Yotzei Sin Bulletin. He maintained life-long relationships with other Jewish people from China – some of their personal stories are included in his research files.

13.75 linear feet (9 cartons, 1 box, 2 oversize boxes, 2 oversize folders)

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Collection is open for research.