Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Murray C. Bernays papers, 1919-1975
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Bernays, Murray C.
- Title
- Murray C. Bernays papers
- Dates
- 1919-1975 (inclusive)19191975
- Quantity
- 2.70 cubic feet (6 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 03817
- Summary
- Papers of an American lawyer who planned the legal framework and procedures for the Nuremberg War Crime Trials after World War II.
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Born Murray Cohen in Russia in 1894, Bernays was brought to the United States by his parents as a child. He graduated from Harvard in 1915 and received a law degree from Columbia University in 1919, after serving in France as an artillery lieutenant. In 1917, Murray Cohen, as he was then known, married Hella Bernays. He had his name legally changed to Murray C. Bernays so that his wife’s family name might be kept alive. Murray Bernays was divorced from Hella Bernays in 1923 and, in 1944, he married the former Louise Westing.
Between the late 1920s and early 1940s, Bernays was a partner in the New York law firm Ernst, Gale, Bernays and Falk. He rejoined the U.S. Army during World War II, and became a colonel with the U.S. Army General Staff Corps in 1945. In this capacity, he planned the legal framework and procedures for the Nuremberg War Crime Trials, basing the trials on the legal foundation of conspiracy and publicly trying the war crimes defendants through well-established legal methods. For this, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.
Bernays had intended to go to Japan for the trial of war criminals there, as his trial plan was also to be used there, but because of illness he retired from the U.S. Army. He returned to New York and his law practice in 1945. Bernays died in 1970.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection contains Murray C. Bernays' files regarding the Nuremberg War Crime Trials, which consist of indexes, agendas, planning documents, legal documents, memos, reports, newspaper clippings, and publications. Included are photographs of Bernays and colleagues. There is also Bernays' correspondence, both personal and communications regarding the Nuremberg Trials. The collection also includes biographical data and files related to Bernays’ military service. Bernays' unpublished book "This is the Land" and his and his wife Louise’s unpublished poetry manuscripts are in this collection as well.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by Murray C. Bernays at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThe collection materials were donated by Louise W. Bernays in 1971-1982, and by Peter M. Bernays in 1984.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe material was processed by Clinton Ide and Leslie Waggener in March 2017.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Biographical Material and Literary WorksReturn to Top
Series I contains biographical data about Bernays; a photograph of him for The National Cyclopedia of American Biography; his military orders and commissions during World War I and World War II; awards and diplomas; and official documents relating to his retirement from the U.S. Army in 1945. The series also includes unpublished poetry written by Murray Bernays and by Louise Bernays and an unpublished manuscript by Murray Bernays titled, "This is the Land" about a Russian woman who emigrates to the United States with her children in 1899 to join her husband. There are also postcards from trips taken by Murray Bernays while he was in Europe for the Nuremberg Trials.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | Biographical data |
undated |
1 | Murray C. Bernays' awards, certificates, and diplomas |
1918-1965 |
1 | Murray C. Bernays' military service, World War I |
1918-1924 and undated |
1 | Murray C. Bernays' military service, World War II |
1942-1945 |
1 | Murray C. Bernays' retirement from military service |
1945-1950 |
1 | European postcards and tourist map |
undated |
1 | Poetry |
1933-1935 |
1 | Poetry |
1965, 1967 and undated |
2 | Poetry |
1967 and undated |
2 | Manuscript for "This is the Land," |
undated |
Series II. CorrespondenceReturn to Top
Series II contains personal correspondence including letters written by Murray to Louise Westing in the 1930s before their marriage, undated letters written between them, and letters written to Louise while Murray was in Europe preparing for the Nuremberg Trials. There is also military correspondence and memos that are primarily between the American legal team preparing for the trials, but also between Bernays and some European counterparts. After Bernays' retirement from the U.S. Army in November 1945, the correspondence relates mostly to talks and publications by Bernays about preparations for the Nuremberg Trials.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
2 | Correspondence (personal to Louise Westing) |
1933 |
3 | Correspondence (personal to Louise Westing) |
1933, 1939 |
3 | Correspondence (personal between Murray and Louise) |
undated |
3 | Correspondence and memos (personal and military) |
1942-1944 |
3 | Correspondence and memos (personal and military) |
January - June 1945 |
3 | Correspondence and memos (personal and military) |
July - September 1945 |
3 | Correspondence and memos (personal and military) |
October - December 1945 |
3 | Correspondence (military and Bernays' post-war activities) |
January 1946 |
3 | Correspondence (military and Bernays' post-war activities) |
February 1946 |
3 | Correspondence (military and Bernays' post-war activities) |
March 1946 |
4 | Correspondence (military and Bernays' post-war activities) |
April - August 1946 |
4 | Correspondence (Bernays' post-war activities and correspondence with Bernay's widow Louise) |
1947-1967, 1972 |
Series III. Nuremberg War Crimes TrialsReturn to Top
Series III contains files of reports, agendas, memos, telegrams, background literature, testimony, and plans related to the preparation for the Nuremberg Trials. Bernays organized the files in sections under the titles “Preparation of Evidence,” “Secret Evidence,” and “Trial and Punishment.” He numbered each document and provided an index at the beginning of each section indicating the general contents of each numbered document. Additionally, there is one folder of unnumbered documents that were also used for trial preparation. This series also contains news releases produced by the American legal team, photographs, and publications written about the trials by Bernays and other authors.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
4 | Notes on concepts and laws of war criminal prosecution |
undated |
4 | Index for Preparation of Evidence files |
undated |
4 | Preparation of Evidence (folder 1) |
1945 |
4 | Preparation of Evidence (folder 2) |
1945 |
4 | Preparation of Evidence (folder 3) |
1945 |
4 | Index for Secret Evidence files |
undated |
4 | Secret Evidence (folder 1) |
1945 |
4 | Secret Evidence (folder 2) |
1945 |
5 | Secret Evidence (folder 3) |
1945 |
5 | Index for Trial and Punishment files (folders 1-3) |
undated |
5 | Trial and Punishment (folder 1) |
1944-1945 |
5 | Trial and Punishment (folder 2) |
1945 |
5 | Trial and Punishment (folder 3) |
1945 |
5 | Index for Trial and Punishment files (folders 4-6) |
undated |
5 | Trial and Punishment (folder 4) |
1945 |
5 | Trial and Punishment (folder 5) |
1945 |
5 | Trial and Punishment (folder 6) |
1945 |
6 | Trial and Punishment - statements by British and French prosecutors |
1946-1946 |
6 | Loose pages of evidentiary materials |
1944, 1945, undated |
6 | Nuremberg Trials press releases |
1945 |
6 | Photographs related to Bernays' participation in Nuremberg Trials |
1945 |
6 | "Letters to the Editor" about Nuremberg Trials written by Murray C. Bernays |
1945 and undated |
6 | Articles by Murray C. Bernays about Nuremberg Trials in Survey Graphic magazine |
1946 |
6 | Article by Murray C. Bernays about Nuremberg Trials in Reader's Digest
|
1946 |
6 | Articles by Murray C. Bernays about Nuremberg Trials in various publications |
1946, 1949, undated |
6 | Newspaper articles and publications regarding Nuremberg Trials by other authors |
1945-1946 |
6 |
United States of America v. Erhard Milch: Nuernberg, War Crimes Trials, Records of Case II, Special List No. 38, National Archives and Records Service |
1975 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Lawyers -- Europe -- 20th century.
- Lawyers -- United States -- 20th century.
- Nuremberg War Crime Trials, Nuremberg, Germany, 1946-1949.
- War crimes -- Europe -- 20th century.
- War criminals -- Europe -- 20th century.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Atrocities -- Europe.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Destruction and pillage -- Europe.
Corporate Names
- United States. Army. General Staff Corps.
- United States. Army -- Lawyers.