Scope and Contents
Correspondence; certificates of military service, public school attendance, marriage, and training; news clippings and part of a newsletter; a conference program; genealogy materials; and photographs of family, friends, and events document the history and activities of members of the Berman family from 1925 to 1989. Of particular interest are the numerous photographs of Dave Berman througout his life from childhood to middle age, including photos of his activities with the B.I.C. Club.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish material from the Berman Family Papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.
The Woodson Research Center use policy is that researchers assume sole responsibility for any infringement of privacy, literary rights, copyrights, or other rights arising from their use of the archival materials. In addition to any restrictions placed by donors, certain kinds of archival materials are restricted for the life of the creator plus 50 years. These materials include, but are not limited to, student grades, transcripts, and any job applications or recommendations.
Biographical / Historical
Louis Berman and Ethel “Ettie” Kornweiser were born January 16, 1884, and July 30, 1889, respectively, in Slonim, Grodno Region, Poland in what is today Belarus. The two immigrated to the United States through New York in July 1905, eventually settling in Houston where Louis was a brick layer by trade. They were married June 9, 1907, and had nine children: Philip, David, Fanny, Rosalie, Joseph, Dorothy, Morris, Abraham, and Hymie, all born in Houston, with the exception of Philip who was born in Pennsylvania. Louis was a bricklayer by trade. Louis died May 27, 1951, and Ettie on March 22, 1977. Both are interred at Adath Israel Cemetery in Houston.
Louis and Ettie’s son, David “Dave” Berman, was born October 15, 1909 in Houston. Anna Sohmers was born in Poland in 1915 and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1923. She and Dave were married in March of 1932 and had three children: Morton, Bernard, and Ida Sue. The family were members of Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston. When he was young, Dave was a member of the B.I.C. Club, which is said to stand for the Hebrew words meaning “Mighty Men of Israel.” The club was organized in 1932 by young Jewish men interested in maintaining Jewish social contacts and enjoying athletic activities. Dave died October 8, 1969 and Anna on March 14, 2002 and both are interred at Brookside Memorial Park.
