Guide to the Morris Berman Photographs c1950-c1975

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Morris Berman Photographs
Creator
Berman, Morris
Collection Number
PSS 0043
Extent
2 linear feet (1 box)
Date
c1950-c1975
Abstract
Morris Berman was a press photographer who worked for the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the Pittsburgh Press. Although most remembered for his coverage of Pittsburgh sporting events, Berman also captured images of various feature stories during his time as a photographer. The Morris Berman Photographs consist of large, black and white photographic prints taken by Berman during his career as a press photographer for the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph and thePittsburgh Post-Gazette. These prints include images of various Pittsburgh sporting events and other photographs associated with feature stories throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Sierra Green.
Sponsor
This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

Morris Berman was a press photographer who worked for the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the Pittsburgh Press. Before entering the photography field, Berman served as a reporter for the Wheeling News Register in Wheeling, West Virginia, beginning in 1928. Arriving in Pittsburgh to continue his career in journalism for the Sun-Telegraph in 1937, Berman was given a camera and assigned to cover a steel strike in Beaver Falls, Pa. The photographs that Berman took that day solidified his career as a press photographer. In 1943, Berman interrupted his work for the Sun-Telegraph in order to serve in World War II. Throughout the remainder of World War II, Berman served in the Army Signal Corps and the Army Pictorial Service capturing images of the war in both Italy and Africa. Of the many photographs taken during his service abroad, Berman received special recognition for an image that he took of the corpses of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress in Milan, Italy. Berman was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in World War II.

Berman resumed his career as a press photographer for the Sun-Telegraph in 1946. This same year, Berman worked with colleagues to establish the National Press Photographers Association. Although most remembered for his coverage of Pittsburgh sporting events, Berman also captured images of various feature stories during his time as a photographer, including the visit of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh trolley strike of 1957. Berman is best remembered for the image he captured in 1964 of New York Giants quarterback Y. A. Tittle kneeling on the field after being hit by a Steelers defenseman. Sports Illustrated magazine ranked this photograph among the top 100 sports photographs of the 20th century.

Upon retiring from the Post-Gazette in 1979, Berman moved with his wife to Arizona. In 2001, Berman displayed some of the many images he captured throughout his career as a photographer in an exhibit at the West Valley Art Musuem in Arizona. Morris Berman died in 2002.

Scope and Content Notes

The Morris Berman Photographs consist of large, black and white photographic prints taken by Berman during his career as a press photographer for the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. These prints include images of various Pittsburgh sporting events, including games featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Pittsburgh Hornets (predecessor franchise to the Pittsburgh Penguins). In addition, this collection also contains photographs of the construction of the Civic Arena in 1961 and the Pittsburgh Trolley strike in 1957. Other images capture facets of daily life in Pittsburgh during his tenure at the Sun-Telegraph. This collection also includes a series of large photographic prints that have been mounted on matting for professional display.

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Morris Berman in 1995.

Archives accession # 1995.0375

Preferred Citation

Morris Berman Photographs, c1950-c1975, PSS 0043 , Rauh Jewish Archives, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Sierra Green on 02/03/2012.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    • Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph

    Other Subjects

    • Pittsburgh Steelers (Football team)
    • Pittsburgh Hornets (Hockey team)
    • Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball team)
    • Journalism--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
    • Press Photographers
    • Jews--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh

Container List