Sanford L. Berger papers

The Sanford L. Berger papers consist chiefly of research material relating to the activities of California architect Sanford L. Berger, from the mid 1960s to the late 1990s, as a collector, student, and enthusiast of objects and knowledge related to 19th century English artist, decorator, poet, and printer William Morris and his circle.

This finding aid provides a preliminary inventory of the collection and has been broadly arranged into eleven series. This collection contains a wide assortment of materials of varying research value. Because most items remain in the original order in which the Huntington received them, there is some overlap among series. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence between Berger and prominent individuals in Morrisian scholarly, academic, special collections libraries, book trade and museum circles in the United States and England (Series 1), as well copies of articles, clippings, ephemera, and research materials related to Morrisian topics (Series 2 and Series 5).

The collection also contains administrative documents and ephemera related to museum exhibitions that included material from the Bergers' collection (Series 3), and specific research and travel files related to the story of Cupid and Psyche as recounted in Morris's The Earthly Paradise (Series 8); ecclesiastical stained glass installations of Morris & Co. visited by the Bergers (Series 9); and the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (Series 7). Miscellaneous ephemera (Series 4) in the collection includes fine press book announcements, exhibition posters, postcards, clippings, photocopies and photographs of Morris designs, correspondence, notes and inventories made by Berger, 238 bifolios from The Golden Legend (Series 4, Box 64), and loose gatherings and separated leaves from miscellaneous imprints (Series 4, Box 65). Complimentary materials in the collection include items related to Berger's interest in contemporary and historical fine press printing, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area (Series 6) and two film reels from the 1970s (Series 10).