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Guide to the Vera Berliner Collection MS 58
MS 58  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Biographical / Historical Notes
  • Scope and Content
  • Arrangement
  • Preferred Citation
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Processing Information

  • Title: Vera Berliner Collection
    Identifier/Call Number: MS 58
    Contributing Institution: San Diego History Center Document Collection
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 0.5 Linear feet (1 box)
    Date (inclusive): 1905-1938
    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.
    Language of Materials: English; German.
    creator: Berliner Family

    Biographical / Historical Notes

    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.”

    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.

    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.

    Preferred Citation

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

    Conditions Governing Access

    This collection is open for research.

    Conditions Governing Use

    The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials.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

    Processing Information

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

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Berliner, Rudolph
    Berliner, Vera
    Kay, Barney
    Chula Vista (Calif.)
    Farms--California
    Vaudeville shows
    Women musicians