Isadore A. Bernstein's papers relate largely to his involvements with biochemistry and his teaching and research at the University of Michigan and abroad. These interests are reflected both in his research files and his correspondence. The collection is divided into three series: Research and Teaching, Personal and Biographical Information, and Correspondence.
Isadore A. Bernstein was born on December 23, 1919 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. In 1941 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University. He married Claire Bernstein in 1942 and they had two children, Lynne, born in 1949, and Amy, born in 1954. From 1941 to 1946 Bernstein served in the U.S. Army in the Northern Pacific theatre. Bernstein did his graduate work at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, under the tutelage of Harland G. Wood. Bernstein received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the university in 1952. For the next year, Bernstein remained at CWRU as a senior instructor in the department of biochemistry.
In 1953 Bernstein came to the University of Michigan as a research associate at the Institute of Industrial Health in the School of Public Health, a position he held until 1956 and then again from 1959 to 1970. Bernstein began teaching at the University in 1954 as an instructor of biological chemistry in the Department of Dermatology in the Medical School. In 1957 he became an assistant professor in the same department and in 1961 was promoted to associate professor. Also in 1961 Bernstein began teaching as an associate professor in the Department of Industrial Health in the School of Public Health, a position that he held until 1967 when he was promoted to professor. A year later, Bernstein was also promoted to professor of biological chemistry in the Department of Dermatology in the Medical School. In 1970 the Department of Industrial Health became the Department of Environmental and Industrial Health in the School of Public Health. In 1971 a Department of Biological Chemistry was created in the Medical School, replacing Bernstein's previous appointment in the Department of Dermatology.
Bernstein was involved with The Institute of Environmental and Industrial Health from 1970 to 1989, both as a research associate (1970-1978) and as the associate director for research (1978-1989). From 1983 to 1987 he was the director of the Toxicology Program in the Department of Environmental and Industrial Health in the School of Public Health. Bernstein retired from the University in 1990 as an active emeritus professor.
Bernstein also had a number of other involvements at the University, the following of which are a select few. From 1959 to 1971 he was on the Human Use of Radioisotopes Subcommittee of the University Radiation Policy Committee. He was the program director for the United States Public Health Service Postdoctoral Research Training Grant in Environmental Biology, Epidermal Neo- and Hyperplasia, at the School of Public Health. From 1962 to 1970 he sat on the Research Advisory Committee at the School of Public Health and was the chair from 1967 to 1970. He was also on the Research Committee of the University of Michigan Cancer Research Institute. From 1970 to 1984 Bernstein was the chairman of the University Radiation Policy Committee.
Bernstein belonged to a variety of societies including: Sigma Xi, the American Chemical Society, the American Society for Microbiology, the American Institute for Biological Sciences, and the American Public Health Association. He also received a number of honors including: the Stephen Rothman Memorial Award, Society for Investigative Dermatology in 1981; the Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award, University of Michigan in 1981; Kunsho, Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays and neck ribbon, Emperor and Government of Japan in 1989; and an appointment as an Honorary Professor of Kunming Medical College in China.
In addition to authoring and co-authoring numerous articles and book chapters, Bernstein was also very involved in a number of activities outside of the University including the Society of Investigative Dermatology and the American Association of University Professors. In 1976 he was chairman of Governor William Milliken's PBB Scientific Panel. PBB (polybrominated biphenyl) is a fire retardant chemical that was accidentally mixed with cattle feed in the early 1970s and led to food contamination. Bernstein was also the coordinator for the United States for the U.S. -- Japan Joint Seminar on Biochemistry of Epidermal Differentiation in 1976, 1979, 1982, and 1985 and a member of the National Environmental Health Science Council, NIEHS/NIH, 1984 to 1987. Bernstein passed away on January 11, 1998.
