About this Collection
Water M. Phillips interviewed over 150 civic and political leaders on subjects related to Philadelphia city government and history between the late 1930s and the 1970s. Related collection: Walter M. Phillips, Sr. Papers (Acc. 527)
About this Interview
Philadelphia politician Norman Berson discusses his political career in the Central City Reform Democrats, as a ward committeeman, and a State Legislator. He discusses the process he and his wife, Lenore, along with the reform party took in attempt to clean out political corruption in Philadelphia. They continued to work for better juvenile education, black rights, and passed the Protection of Abuse Act, which gave abused women or men the right to have the abuser taken from the household regardless of who the lease owner was. The financial integrity of the school district is the primary concern of Berson at the time of the interview.
Biographical / Historical Note
Walter M. Phillips, Sr. (1912-1985) was active in Philadelphia civic and political life for over thirty years. He worked and volunteered in a variety of city and regional organizations. After retiring, Phillips initiated an oral history project, interviewing in the 1970s many individuals with whom he had worked.
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Transcript Note
This is a transcript of a tape-recorded interview. The interviewee/narrator read the transcript and made minor corrections, but the reader should bear in mind that it represents a transcription of the spoken word.
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