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Myron Samuelson Papers

 Collection
Identifier: mss-804

Scope and Contents

The collection documents some of the life and work of Myron Samuelson, primarily the research and creation of his book "The Story of the Jewish Community of Burlington, Vermont." Other materials present include correspondence during his service in World War II, research material related to the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, and several photographs.

Dates

  • 1867-1985

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.

Biographical / Historical

Myron Isaac Samuelson was born in Burlington, Vermont in 1908. He was the youngest of seven children born to parents Max Samuelson (circa 1868-1928) and Ida Cohen (circa 1876-1967). Max and Ida were both born in an area of Russia that later became Poland; they immigrated to the U.S. separately in the late 1880s (sources vary) and married in Burlington in 1893.

Myron attended Burlington High School, graduating in 1925. He next attended the University of Vermont. While there, he was a member of the fraternity Phi Sigma Delta and graduated in 1929. He also attended Cornell University and the University of New Jersey Law School, from which he graduated in 1932. He was sometimes referred to by the nickname "Buzzy" (also spelled "Bussy").

He married Lilian Sylvia Cohen (1909-1987). She also attended Burlington High School (class of 1926) and the University of Vermont (Class of 1930) where she was a member of the K.E.L. Sorority and Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She earned a Master of Arts degree in French from the University of Vermont in 1932. They married on December 25, 1932 and had two daughters.

Myron worked as a lawyer based in Burlington and served as chair of the Burlington Army and Navy Jewish Welfare Board (JWB). He had recently become a judge when he left these roles to enlist in April of 1942 from Army reserve duty to serve in World War II. He rose through the ranks from First Lieutenant to Major and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1945, when he oversaw the Adjutant General Depot. He was released from service in May of 1946 and returned to civilian life as a lawyer. It appears he formed a business partnership with fellow lawyer Samuel Bloomberg in the 1960s.

His book "The Story of the Jewish Community of Burlington, Vermont" was published in 1976. He died in 1985.

Extent

2.65 Linear Feet (2 cartons, 1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection contains photographs, correspondence, some UVM materials, and other documentation of Samuelson's life as well as his collected research (including many photographs), manuscript and typescript drafts, and preparation correspondence of his book, "The Story of the Jewish Community of Burlington, Vermont."

Physical Location

Library Research Annex; contact uvmsc@uvm.edu for access.

Processing Information

See geni.com for records of Myron's ancestors and siblings which include photographs. Correspondence relative to the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB) is available through Ancestry.com. Additional biographical details were retrieved from University of Vermont alumni publications.

Title
Guide to the Myron Samuelson Papers
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University of Vermont Libraries, Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington Vermont 05405 U.S.A. US
(802) 656-2138
(802) 656-4038 (Fax)