Guide to the Evelyn Berger Brown Collection
Lucinda Glenn Rand
Graduate Theological Union Archives
Graduate Theological Union
2400 Ridge Road
Berkeley, California, 94709
Phone: (510) 649-2523/2501
Email: archives@gtu.edu
URL: http://gtu.edu/library/information/special-collections
© 2006
Graduate Theological Union. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Evelyn Berger Brown Collection
Collection number: GTU 90-2-01
Graduate Theological Union Archives
Graduate Theological Union
Berkeley, California
- Processed by:
- Lucinda Glenn Rand
- Date Completed:
- July 15, 1999
- Encoded by:
- UCSC OAC Unit
© 2006 Graduate Theological Union. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Evelyn Berger Brown collection
Dates: 1898-1989
Bulk Dates: (Bulk) 1966-1980
Collection number: GTU 90-2-01
Creator:
Brown, Evelyn Berger
Collection Size:
12 boxes, 1 folio
7 linear ft.
Repository: The Graduate Theological Union. Library.
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.
Shelf location: 2/J/2-2/J/4
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection is open for research.
Access Restrictions
Three files restricted until 2024 (25 years from 1999). Located in Restricted Box 1, ff 6-8, 3/B/1.
Publication Rights
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.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Evelyn Berger Brown in 1990
Biography
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.)
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Psychologists--United States
Psychologists--Biography
Psychology--United States--History--Sources
Psychology--Women--History--Sources
Psychology--Clergy--History--Sources
Marriage Counseling--United States
Family Psychotherapy--United States
Counseling of Clergy
Counseling of Clergy Family Relationships
Methodists--Biography
Women in church work
Radio Programs
Television Programs
Miller, George Amos, 1868-1961
box-folder 5:4-6:6
Lecture correspondence - concerning lecture dates, places and arrangements
1966-1977
box-folder 6:7-10, 7:1-34, 8:1-5, 12
box-folder 7:1
The Grass Looks Greener
n.d.
box-folder 7:2
U.S.S. Hancock (Navy)
1966-67
box-folder 7:3-5
Various Programs and Lectures
1946-1950
1965-1984
undated
box-folder 7:6-7
Lectures given: lists of titles and venues
1936-1986
box-folder 7:8
Lecture Topics, lists of titles and program outlines
n.d.
box-folder 7:10
Ministers and Minister's Wives Workshops
1954-1973
box-folder 7:11-16
Pebbles: a series of vignettes and topics
n.d.
box-folder 7:17
Spanish America, various dates
1943-1947
box-folder 7:18
Colston Leigh, lecturer's agent; contract
1956-1958
box-folder 7:19-25
Post Lecture correspondence
1965-1986
box-folder 7:26
Promotional material, lecture brochures, and biographical data
n.d.
box-folder 7:27-34, 8:1-5
Lectures from Binders
Note
Note: Evelyn B. Brown had a series of small three-ring binders with typed notes and outlines, dated and undated. The binders
had headings on the outside cover, the contents were tabbed with titles or topics.
box-folder 7:33-34
Berkeley Baptist Divinity School
n.d.
box-folder 8:3-4
Parent/Child/Family Relationships
n.d.
box-folder 12
Lecture notes on 4.5 x 6 in. cards. Taken from a small green Microform metal box. The box is housed inside Box 10.
box-folder 8:6
La Joven (in Spanish)
1923
box-folder 8:7
Extra Curricular Activities for the Spanish Department, Pamphlet and Correspondence
1942-50
box-folder 8:7b
Who Matter Most, Today's Children
1954
box-folder 8:8
The Minister and Family Counseling, MSS
ca. 1963-64
box-folder 8:9-11
Triangle, book and correspondence
1971-1975
box-folder 8:12
Loneliness, correspondence
1974
box-folder 8:13-16
This One Thing I Do: the story of Alice Weed, correspondence
1982-1987
box-folder 8:17-18
Formula for a Happy Marriage, (sample chapters) and correspondence, MSS
1983-1985
box-folder 8:19-20
Bits and Pieces: EBB Memoir, MSS
1986
box-folder 8:21-22
Pricetag, a novel, MSS drafts
1984-1988
box-folder 8:23
Suggestions for Writing a Religious Play, MSS and published pamphlet
n.d.
box-folder 9:1-6
Faucets (Sections: Hostility, Guilt, Fear, Low Self-Esteem, Wrenches), MSS
n.d.
box-folder 9:7-9
Radio Show:
Successful Parents, correspondence and show scripts
1944
box-folder 9:10-13
TV Show:
Crosswinds, correspondence and show scripts
1957-1958
box-folder 9:14-21
TV Show:
A Family Affair, correspondence and show scripts (includes some for Crosswinds)
1960
box-folder 9:22
TV Show:
Family Forum, correspondence
1963-64
box-folder 9:23
Filmstrips: Cathedral Films, scripts
1965
box-folder 9:24
TV and radio scriptwriting workshops
ca. 1964
box-folder 9:25-29
Playscripts:
Henry,
Pricetag on Love,
Roaring Forties: Dangerous Curves Ahead,
Tremendous Trifles,
Without Benefit of Clergy
n.d.
box-folder 9:30-45, 10:1-26
box-folder 9:30
Association of Couples for Marriage Enrichment
1973-1974
box-folder 9:31
American Association of Marriage Counselors
1966-74
box-folder 9:32
American Board of Counseling Services
1966
box-folder 9:33
American Institute of Family Relations
1966-75
box-folder 9:34
Jesse Berger Scholarship, University of the Pacific
1969-87
box-folder 9:35
Berkeley Baptist Divinity School
1963-1972
box-folder 9:36
Bibliographies/Book Lists
1960-1968
box-folder 9:37-44
Bishop and Mrs. George A. Miller Lectureship, University of the Pacific
1961-1987
box-folder 9:45
Evelyn Berger Brown, biographical data
1896-1990
box-folder 10:1
Evelyn Berger Brown Family Trust, 2nd amendment
1989
box-folder 10:5
Drew University, United Methodist Archives (Bishop Miller Collection)
1970-1986
box-folder 10:6
East Bay Psychological Center (also called the Psychological Consultation Center and the Evelyn Berger Center)
ca. 1940-1975
box-folder 10:7
Graduate Theological Union, Correspondence
1967
box-folder 10:8
"The Topsey Growth of a Counseling Center", East Bay Psychological Center
1989
box-folder 10:10-11
Bishop George A. Miller Collection, Drew University, United Methodist Archives
n.d.
box-folder 10:12
List of Photographs send and returned
1963-65
box-folder 10:13-16
Referrals, from ministers, doctors, lawyers
1966-1969
box-folder 10:17-18
Scarritt College, Board of Trustees
1966-79
box-folder 10:19
Spanish House, Stockton, CA.
1930
box-folder 10:20-21
Staff Applicants from APA Employment Bulletin
1966-1967
box-folder 10:22
Bishop Marvin Stuart, UM Church, Northern CA-NV Conference
1970-1975
box-folder 10:25
Women's Athletic Club, Oakland
1947-48
box-folder 10:26
Women's Society of Christian Service, Methodist Church, history
1989
box-folder 11:1-22
Photos covering Evelyn's childhood, high school, college and graduate years
1898-1933
box-folder 11:23-30
Photos are career woman portraits of her from professional studios.
1931-1981
Folio 1
Mounted photo of Evelyn Miller
ca. 1931
box-folder 1
Restricted Material
Note
Restricted until 2024 (25 years from 1999). Located in Restricted Box 1:6-8, (3/B/1)
box-folder 1:6
American Baptist Foreign Missionary Testing, Candidates
1968-1969
box-folder 1:7
American Baptist Seminary of the West/Berkeley Baptist Divinity School Psychological Testing
1962-69