Edward L. Bernays papers
Collection
Identifier: M099
Overview
Edward L. Bernays, "Father of Public Relations" was born in Vienna in 1891. He studied at Cornell and became a member of the United States Committee on Public Information in 1918. In 1919, Bernays opened a public relations firm, and in 1923 wrote the seminal book on public relations: Crystallizing Public Opinion (New York: Boni and Liveright, 1923) [call number HM261 .B4]. On June 17, 1989, Bernays received an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Northeastern University and gave the commencement speech. He died in 1995.
Dates
- 1982-1998 (bulk 1993-1995)
Creator
- Patchell, Herbert (Person)
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is unrestricted.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:
Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the University Archivist.
Chronology
- 1891 Nov 22 ELB born in Vienna
- 1892 ELB moves to the United States with parents
- 1912 Bachelor's degree from Cornell University
- 1913 Produced Damaged Goods, the first public play in American history about venereal disease
- 1919 Opened his public relations business
- 1922 Married Doris E. Fleischman
- 1923 Taught the first college course on public relations at NYU
- 1923 Wrote Crystallizing Public Opinion
- 1946 Founded Edward L. Bernays Foundation to serve public causes
- 1962 Retired and moved to Cambridge, Mass.
- 1960s Designed/implemented a plan to save the sycamore trees along Memorial Drive, Cambridge, Mass.
- 1980 Death of wife Doris
- 1989 Received an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from NU
- 1990 Life editors designate ELB one of 100 most important Americans of 20th century
- 1991 Northeastern University honors ELB on his 100th birthday
- 1992 ELB involved in Massachusetts Senate Bill #374 to require licensing of public relations personnel
- 1995 PBS series recognizes ELB as one of eight Americans who most influenced 20th century
- 1995 Mar 9 ELB dies in Cambridge, Mass.
- 1891 Nov 22
- ELB born in Vienna
- 1892
- ELB moves to the United States with parents
- 1912
- Bachelor's degree from Cornell University
- 1913
- Produced Damaged Goods, the first public play in American history about venereal disease
- 1919
- Opened his public relations business
- 1922
- Married Doris E. Fleischman
- 1923
- Taught the first college course on public relations at NYU
- 1923
- Wrote Crystallizing Public Opinion
- 1946
- Founded Edward L. Bernays Foundation to serve public causes
- 1962
- Retired and moved to Cambridge, Mass.
- 1960s
- Designed/implemented a plan to save the sycamore trees along Memorial Drive, Cambridge, Mass.
- 1980
- Death of wife Doris
- 1989
- Received an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from NU
- 1990
- Life editors designate ELB one of 100 most important Americans of 20th century
- 1991
- Northeastern University honors ELB on his 100th birthday
- 1992
- ELB involved in Massachusetts Senate Bill #374 to require licensing of public relations personnel
- 1995
- PBS series recognizes ELB as one of eight Americans who most influenced 20th century
- 1995 Mar 9
- ELB dies in Cambridge, Mass.
Extent
.35 cubic feet (1 container)
Language
English
System of Arrangement:
Arranged in one alphabetical sequence.
Physical Location
65/4
Creator
- Patchell, Herbert (Person)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Edward L. Bernays Papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Lisa Luna
- Date
- April 2004
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections Repository