Seymour Berkson (January 30, 1905 – January 5, 1959) was an American publisher.
Seymour Berkson | |
|---|---|
 c. 1939 | |
| Born | January 30, 1905 Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Died | January 5, 1959 (aged 53) New York City, US |
| Education | University of Chicago (BA) |
| Occupation | Publisher |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2, including Bill Berkson |
Biography
editBerkson was born to a Jewish family[1] in Chicago, Illinois, the son of immigrants who fled persecution in Russia.[2][3][4] His father worked as a tailor.[1] Berkson graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in political science.[1] He started his career as reporter for the Chicago Herald-Examiner[5] and worked his way through the ranks eventually becoming general manager of the International News Service[2][3] where he worked at their news bureaus in Rome and Paris.[5] He returned to the United States and accepted a position as the publisher for the New York Journal-American in New York City.[2][3]
Berkson served as chairman of the newspaper committee for Brotherhood Week, the national observance sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews.[2]
Personal life
editBerkson married twice; he had a daughter, Barbara Berkson Coady (d. 1996), with his first wife, journalist Jane Eads (1901–1992), whom he met at the Chicago Herald-Examiner.[1][5][6] In 1936, he married fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert (1903–2003); they had one son, poet Bill Berkson (1939–2016).[7][8] He died on January 5, 1959, in New York City.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Oral history interview with Bill Berkson, 2015 September 29-October 2". Smithsonian. September 29, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Seymour Berkson, Publisher of N.Y. Journal-American, Dies at 53". Jewish Telegraph Agency. January 6, 1959.
- ^ a b c d "Seymour Berkson Is Dead at 53; Publisher of Journal-American; Hearst Official, Ex-Head of I. N. S., Stricken on Coast -Newsman Since 1925". The New York Times. January 5, 1959.
- ^ Karp, Evan (June 10, 2015). "Jewish poets read Jewish poets". SF Gate.
It was not until adolescence, and only because of a shared love for poetry, that Bill Berkson learned that his father's side of the family was Jewish.
- ^ a b c Heise, Kenan (May 22, 1992). "Reporter, Columnist Jane Eads, 91". The Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Robert F. Coady, 73, died April 16, 2007 at the Kindred Hospital in Peabody, Mass. after a brief illness". The Portsmouth Herald. April 19, 2007.
He was pre-deceased by his wife, Barbara (Berkson) Coady, who died in 1996.
- ^ Tiffany, John. "Eleanor Lambert believed in destiny". Council of Fashion Designers of America. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
- ^ "Eleanor Lambert Obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 10 October 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2013.