Betty Berzon Papers, 1928-2006 Coll2011.004
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt1s2035mf No online items Finding Aid to the Betty Berzon Papers, 1928-2006 Coll2011.004 Finding aid prepared by Loni Shibuyama ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California 909 West Adams Boulevard Los Angeles, California, 90007 (213) 741-0094 [email protected] © 2011 Finding Aid to the Betty Berzon Coll2011.004 1 Papers, 1928-2006 Coll2011.004 Title: Betty Berzon Papers Identifier/Call Number: Coll2011.004 Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California Language of Material: English Physical Description: 66.9 linear feet.39 records boxes + 15 photo binder boxes + 3 archive cartons + 7 flat archive boxes + 1 suitcase + 1 oversize trophy + 1 mapcase drawer. Date (bulk): Bulk, 1965-2005 Date (inclusive): 1928-2006 Abstract: Manuscripts, correspondence, organizational records, research materials, photograph albums, audiovisual items, clothing, trophies and other materials from lesbian activist, writer and psychotherapist, Betty Berzon (1928-2006). Included in this collection are manuscripts and resource materials for Berzon's published and unpublished books; records from gay and lesbian organizations in which she was involved; paper and audiovisual material for her therapy practice, workshops, and training programs; correspondence files; subject files; extensive photo albums and memorabilia documenting Berzon's personal life; and personal papers, including those related to Berzon's relationship with long-time partner, Teresa DeCrescenzo, and Berzon's years-long battle with cancer. creator: Berzon, Betty Biography Betty Louise Berzon was born to a middle-class Jewish family on January 18, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. The family moved to Tuscon, Arizona when Berzon was young, and upon graduating high school she attended Stanford University, majoring in journalism and creative writing. In 1949, Berzon got a job in a bookstore, which turned into a short-lived career as a bookseller. She owned and operated Berzon Books in 1951 in Los Angeles, but it went out of business after one year. In the following years, she experienced a bout of depression and sought treatment in a psychiatric hospital. After her release from the hospital, she got a job in a sanitarium and enrolled in the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a psychology student. While working on her degree, Berzon took a job as a caseworker for the American Red Cross Military Hospital Service, and later for the San Diego County Probation Department. By 1958, she had graduated with a Master's degree in Psychology from San Diego State College and hadbegan working for a psychotherapy research organization, Western Behavioral Sciences Institute (WBSI). There, she developed her psychotherapy career and created program materials for group therapy sessions called the Bell & Howell Encountertape Series. She evenually left WBSI and established herself as a consultant, developing workshops, training sessions and seminars in group therapy, personal growth and interpersonal relationships. She later received her Ph.D. By 1971, Berzon had began specializing in work counseling gay men and lesbian women, as well as same-sex couples. Throughout the 1970s to 2000s, Berzon edited or wrote a number of books about gay and lesbian identity, relationships, and homophobia, including Positively Gay, Permanent Partners, Intimacy Dance, and Setting Them Straight. She also wrote an autobiography about her therapy career and experience coming out as a lesbian woman called Surviving Madness. In addition to her psychotherapy and writing career, Berzon was an outspoken activist on behalf of gay and lesbian rights and awareness. Among her advocacy work, Berzon served as the National President of the Gay Academic Union; served on the boards of National Gay Rights Advocates and the Gay Community Services Center (later called the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center); and was the founding Board Chair of the Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS). She also participated in the Lambda Literary Foundation and the Whitman-Radclyffe Foundation. In the 1970s, Berzon met Teresa DeCrescenzo, who would be her partner throughout the rest of her life. Berzon and DeCrescenzo lived together in Los Angeles for 33 years. Berzon died of cancer on January 24, 2006. Sources: Box 1, Folder 1, Betty Berzon Papers, Coll2011-004, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California Box 4, Folder 22, Betty Berzon Papers, Coll2011-004, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California Box 33, Folder 1, Betty Berzon Papers, Coll2011-004, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California Access The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions. Publication Rights Researchers wishing to publish material must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives as the physical owner of the material. Note that permission to publish does not constitute copyright clearance. ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials from the copyright holder(s). Finding Aid to the Betty Berzon Coll2011.004 2 Papers, 1928-2006 Coll2011.004 Acquisition Information Collection was donated by Teresa DeCrescenzo, Berzon's long-time partner, following Berzon's death. ONE received the collection as a series of donations on February 15, 2009, March 24, 2009, and October 3, 2011. Preferred Citation Box #, folder #, Betty Berzon Papers, Coll2011-004, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California Processing Information Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. In June 2013, open-reel audiotapes were assigned call numbers (ARR####), replacing the box/item numbers that were assigned to the audiotapes when this collection was originally processed. These items were formerly housed in Box 55 and Box 56 of this collection. Collection processed by Emily Prior and Loni Shibuyama, November 2011. Scope and Contents This collection contains manuscripts, correspondence, organizational records, research materials, photograph albums, audiovisual items, clothing, trophies and other materials from lesbian activist, writer and psychotherapist, Betty Berzon (1928-3006). The collection is divided into ten series: The (1) Personal Series contains various materials related to Berzon's personal life, such as her education, health, travel, family, and relationship with long-time partner, Teresa DeCrescenzo. The (2) Writings Series contains manuscripts, correspondence and resource material for Berzon's mostly non-fiction books, as well as articles for magazines, journals and websites. The (3) Psychotherapy Series contains organizational records, correspondence, research material and other documents related to Berzon's development and career as a psychotherapist with various research institutions as well as in private practice. The (4) Activism and Organizations Series contains organizational records and other material documenting Berzon's advocacy work for a variety of gay and lesbian organizations and events, including the Gay Academic Union, the Gay Community Services Center, the Lambda Literary Awards and the Morris Kight memorial. The (5) Speaking Engagements and Lectures Series contains manuscripts, notes, correspondence and publicity materials documenting Berzon's speeches and lectures on gay and lesbian identity, relationships, bigotry, among other topics. The (6) Correspondence Series contains general correspondence with Berzon. The (7) Subject Files Series contains clippings, notes, bibliographies, and other material collected by Berzon. The (8) Photographs Series contains photographs, negatives and slides documenting Berzon's life from her birth through the last year of her life. The (9) Audiovisual Material Series contains reel-to-reel audiotape, audiocassettes, film, videos and DVDs. It includes Berzon's multimedia therapy session kits, as well as audio recordings of workshops, speeches and interviews. The (10) Trophies, Ephemera and Textiles Series includes trophies, buttons, posters, a uniform and other materials. Related Materials Papers that were primarily created or collected by Berzon's partner, Teresa DeCrescenzo, have been separated from the Berzon collection and made into its own Teresa DeCrescenzo Papers collection. This includes materials related to the gay and lesbian youth organization, Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS), which DeCrescenzo founded. Arrangement This collection is divided into ten series: Series 1. Personal Series 2. Writings Series 3. Psychotherapy Series 4. Activism and organizations Series 5. Speaking engagements and lecture series Series 6. Correspondence Series 7. Subject files Series 8. Photographs Series 9. Audiovisual material Series 10. Trophies, ephemera and textiles Finding Aid to the Betty Berzon Coll2011.004 3 Papers, 1928-2006 Coll2011.004 Separated Materials The following books and monographs have been separated from the collection: Aldrich, Ann, and Marijane Meaker. We, Too, Must Love. New York: Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 2006. Aldrich, Ann, and Marijane Meaker. We Walk Alone. New York: Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 2006. Alyson, Sasha. Young, Gay & Proud! Boston: Alyson Publications,