Finding aid for the Harry Bernstein Photographs

Biography of Harry Bernstein

Biographical sketch courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

Harry Bernstein (1856-1920), known as "Czar" Bernstein, was a Cleveland, Ohio, entrepreneur and Republican political ward boss who could, according to contemporary accounts, deliver the votes he promised from his ward to a man. Born in Poland to Berman and Rosa Bernstein, he was brought to Cleveland in 1868, and educated in the public schools. During his career, Bernstein owned theaters, a restaurant, a saloon, a pool hall, and a hotel; established a neighborhood bank; and operated a junk business. He established the People's Theatre and less successful Perry Theater in the 1890s to present Yiddish entertainment in the heavily East European Jewish Woodland neighborhood. His Perry Bank, which later merged with the Cleveland Trust Company, was established specifically to serve the immigrant neighborhood.

Bernstein's businesses, and providing favors for needy immigrants in the 16th (later 12th) ward, provided the base for his political power. Beginning ca. 1888 as an operative for the Hanna machine, he became one of Cleveland's most effective ward bosses, although his influence was confined to the immigrant district. In the 1890s, Bernstein groomed a young protege, Maurice Maschke, who within a decade became a leader of the county's Republican party. In 1903, Bernstein was elected to the city council, the only time he held elective office. Although he supported Mayor Tom L. Johnson, Bernstein did not curry favor with the reformers. With the ascendancy of the Progressives and the beginning of a population shift in his ward, Bernstein lost much of his influence during the first decade of the 20th century.

Bernstein married Sarah Trilling on October 21, 1888. They had five children: Alex, Hyman T., Charles, Fannie, and Rose. He died in Cleveland.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Harry Bernstein

Scope and Content

The Harry Bernstein Photographs, 1900-1908, consist of one album and loose photographs relating to Harry Bernstein, his family and friends.

The photograph album contains 101 black and white photographs and measures 7.5 x 5.75 inches. There are an additional 8 loose black and white photographs that measure 8.5 x 6.75 inches and smaller.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of the Jewish community in Cleveland, Ohio, in the early twentieth century. The photographs include views of the Peoples Theatre, street scenes on Woodland Avenue near the theatre, the interior of the pool hall adjoining the theatre, and a baseball game (presumably at League Park).

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 195 Harry Bernstein Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of David Schulman in 1978.

Detailed Description of The Collection