Berliner (Vera) Collection, 1905-1938

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Summary

Title:
Vera Berliner Collection
Dates:
1905-1938
Creators:
Berliner Family
Abstract:
This collection contains theater billings, contracts, and correspondence regarding the vaudeville career of star violinist Vera Berliner from the 1900s-1920s, as well as some Berliner family papers.
Extent:
0.5 Linear feet (1 box)
Language:
and English; German.
Preferred citation:

Berliner Family Papers, MS 58, San Diego History Center Documents Archives, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains theater billings, contracts, and correspondence regarding the vaudeville career of star violinist Vera Berliner from the 1900s-1920s, as well as some Berliner family papers. Family papers include material on the farm in Chula Vista, Vera’s brother Rudolph Berliner, family letters, and letters from Vera’s first husband and other friends and admirers.

Biographical / historical:

Vera Berliner was a star violinist on the national vaudeville circuit during the period 1906-1926. Her parents, Kate and F. Berliner, lived on her farm in Chula Vista, and she stayed with them during her off seasons running the ranch, which produced lemons and guavas, during the summer months. Her brother Rudolph also played violin and served as a bandleader and production manager.

There is not a great deal of information on her life other than what can be gleaned from this collection. She was married in 1912 to Barney Kay and married again by 1938 to Rudy Howe. A married man, Charles Edward Wright, courted her until her father wrote him a letter telling him to stay away. Throughout her career, she traveled extensively. In 1908 she was billed as a “favorite of the late President McKinley,” and she was also called the “violinist with soul.” In that same year, the Evening Wisconsin describes her playing style as “freak or trick work…rapid and accurate fingering,” so it is apparent Berliner mixed traditional classical style with a more popular showmanship. Garnering favorable reviews wherever she performed, Berliner was also known as Vera Garliner and “Mioni.”

Processing information:

Collection processed by Jennifer Paton in 2002 and Samantha Mills in 2017.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in three series:

Series I: Vera Berliner Theater Career;

Series II: Vera Berliner Personal and Business Papers;

Series III: Berliner Family Papers.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
Date Prepared:
February 22, 2017
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2017-02-22T10:41-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Berliner Family Papers, MS 58, San Diego History Center Documents Archives, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website