Brown (Evelyn Berger) Collection, 1898-1989, bulk (Bulk) 1966-1980

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Summary

Title:
Evelyn Berger Brown collection
Dates:
1898-1989, bulk (Bulk) 1966-1980
Creators:
Brown, Evelyn Berger
Abstract:
This collection consists of Evelyn Berger Brown's professional papers from the mid-1960's to her retirement in the mid-1970's. There is very little personal material. A large portion of the collection consists of material concerning her extensive community lecturing, from the 1930's to the 1980's.
Extent:
12 boxes, 1 folio 7 linear ft.
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Evelyn Berger Brown collection, GTU 90-2-01. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection was taken from the retirement home of Evelyn Berger Brown by the Archivist. Evelyn had moved to the Lake Park Residence in Oakland, CA from her large home of several years. At the time of the move she indicated to the Archivist that she had discarded most of her earlier professional and personal files and correspondence. This collection consists of her professional papers from the mid-1960's to her retirement in the mid-1970's. There is very little personal material. A large portion of the collection consists of material concerning her extensive community lecturing, from the 1930's to the 1980's.

Note: Three files restricted until 2024 (25 years from 1999). Located in Restricted Box 1, ff 6-8, 3/B/1.

Biographical / historical:

Evelyn Berger Brown (1896-1990) was born Evelyn Miller in Hanford, California, July 11, 1896, daughter of Bishop George A. Miller and Margaret Rose Miller. George Miller, a Methodist minister, served local churches in California then became a missionary, later a bishop, in the Philippines, Costa Rica, Chile, and Argentina. Evelyn therefore grew up in these various places, and when older, taught in mission schools (1917-19) and served as a field worker among youth (1921-23).

Evelyn received an A.B., 1921, and M.A., 1930, from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in psychology, 1932, from Columbia University. She also studied in Mexico and Spain and was fluent in Spanish. After receiving the Ph.D., she served as Dean of Women and Professor of Spanish at Allegheny College. Her teaching experience included, at various times, the University of Idaho, San Diego State College, University of the Pacific, and the Berkeley Baptist Divinity School.

In 1939, Evelyn married Jesse Berger. Then in 1941, Evelyn Miller Berger founded the East Bay Psychological Center in Oakland, California, later named the Evelyn Berger Center for Counseling and Psychotherapy after her retirement. Her work and style of therapy centered on the importance of an individual's religious faith in handling psychological problems. The staff always included ordained ministers of different denominations. She had a large and successful counseling practice, held workshops for ministers teaching counseling techniques, and, in the wider community, lectured and taught extensively on family problems, marriage, teenage difficulties, and general emotional disturbances. Evelyn frequently appeared on radio and television as well as hosting her own local shows in the San Francisco Bay Area: "Successful Parents" on radio, and "Cross Winds" and "It's a Family Affair" on TV. Her writing included published articles in church publications and professional journals, and books.

Evelyn was a dedicated member of the Methodist Church and supported the church strongly throughout her life. She was the first California-Nevada Conference president of the Women's Society of Christian Service, and served on various Conference committees and commissions. She was on the Boards of several Conference missions. Evelyn and her husband Jesse were active with youth organizations. She was later a donor to and supporter of the Methodist colleges, Scarritt College, the University of the Pacific, and Drew University establishing lectureships and scholarships.

After Jesse's death in October 1971, Evelyn married C. Maxwell Brown in November 1972. On their retirement, they moved to the Lake Park Methodist retirement residence in Oakland, California. Evelyn Berger Brown died there on November 20, 1990.

(For more extensive biographical information, see Biographical Data, Box 9, ff 45, and "Bits and Pieces", a memoir, Box 8, ff 19-20.)

Acquisition information:
Gift of Evelyn Berger Brown in 1990
Physical location:
2/J/2-2/J/4
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Lucinda Glenn Rand
Date Prepared:
© 2006
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by UCSC OAC Unit. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: June 30, 2006.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Three files restricted until 2024 (25 years from 1999). Located in Restricted Box 1, ff 6-8, 3/B/1.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to The Graduate Theological Union. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Graduate Theological Union 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 by the reader.

Preferred citation:

Evelyn Berger Brown collection, GTU 90-2-01. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.

Location of this collection:
2400 Ridge Road
Berkeley, CA 94709, US
Contact:
(510) 649-2523/2501
archives@gtu.edu
Website