George Chapin Scott and Edward F. Bernier Collection
Title
George Chapin Scott and Edward F. Bernier Collection
Date
Circa late-19th century - 2005
Description
George Chapin Scott was born August 1916 in Heath, Massachusetts, the only child to Myria F. Chapin and John H. Scott. He first contacted The History Project in 2000 to donate a large collection of local lesbian and gay newspapers, including: The Guide, Tommy’s and Next. He lived on Elm Street, Davis Square, Somerville, and died April 12, 2005 at age 88. He was a member of Boston Prime Timers, a 25-year member of the Monday Night Bowling League, and founding treasurer of the Somerville Committee for a Response to AIDS (SCRA). He was the friend of Robert J. Publicover who was a longtime Somerville resident, a publisher of Somerville Journal, the 1992 recipient of Bay Windows Newspaper Award, Mr. Gay New England, and founder of SCRA. Publicover was also the executor of George’s estate. Among other friends of George’s were William Wood of Medford, Rudy Corvo of Boston, Bruce Carpenter of Granby, Jack Sheehan of Quincy, James Cyr of Quincy, Robert Hanson of Provincetown, and Larry Hannay of Somerville.
Edward F. Bernier, or Eddie, was born in Pennsylvania in 1930 and was George’s partner until he died in an auto accident in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, in early 1961. He was a hairdresser in Central Square, Cambridge, on Massachusetts Avenue. This collection contains a large number of photographs of Eddie as well as photographs taken by Eddie.
After George passed away in 2005, all of his stuff was thrown out, perhaps by his landlord. A woman in the neighborhood, Julie Katz, found his collection on the ground by chance, and picked up as much as she could carry. She later contacted The History Project regarding the collection. For this reason, most of the materials lost any original order, and the collection was neither well organized nor comprehensive. Photographs constitute the largest part of the collection. There are a number of photographs of Eddie, as well as old family photos from the late 19th century. Included in the collection are letters, address books, business cards, pamphlets, certificates, high school journals, and news clippings.
View the finding aid for this collection here: http://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/209.
Edward F. Bernier, or Eddie, was born in Pennsylvania in 1930 and was George’s partner until he died in an auto accident in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, in early 1961. He was a hairdresser in Central Square, Cambridge, on Massachusetts Avenue. This collection contains a large number of photographs of Eddie as well as photographs taken by Eddie.
After George passed away in 2005, all of his stuff was thrown out, perhaps by his landlord. A woman in the neighborhood, Julie Katz, found his collection on the ground by chance, and picked up as much as she could carry. She later contacted The History Project regarding the collection. For this reason, most of the materials lost any original order, and the collection was neither well organized nor comprehensive. Photographs constitute the largest part of the collection. There are a number of photographs of Eddie, as well as old family photos from the late 19th century. Included in the collection are letters, address books, business cards, pamphlets, certificates, high school journals, and news clippings.
View the finding aid for this collection here: http://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/209.
Creator
Bernier, Edward F.; Scott, George Chapin
Subject
Bernier, Edward F.; Scott, George Chapin
Contributor
Bernier, Edward F.; Scott, George Chapin
Publisher
The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston
Rights
Copyright restrictions may apply. Email info@historyproject.org for more information.
Identifier
THP-060
Collection Items
Cape cottage in Provincetown, Mass.: Postcard
View of the front facade of a typical cape cottage with floral landscaping in the Provincetown, Mass.
Postcard of Commercial Street in Provincetown, Mass.
A color postcard of a summer street scene on Commercial Street in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Man dancing on the beach in Provincetown, Mass., circa 1950s
A man caught in mid-dance along the tide line on a beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Eddie Bernier on a pier in Provincetown, Mass., circa 1950s
Edward (Eddie) Bernier poses and looks out to sea on a railing of a wharf or pier in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Photography on the beach in Provincetown, Mass., circa 1950s
An interesting composition of men at the beach. One man in a bathing suit stands with legs wide, back facing the camera, looking down (possibly taking a photograph). Another man in a wrap and straw hat waves what may be a feather in the direction of…
A group of people socializing on the pier in Provincetown, Mass.
Three women smile at the camera from a barrel table on a pier or dock in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Various people can be seen around them.
A man in a bathing suit flexing on the beach in Provincetown, Mass., circa 1950s
A man in a striped bathing suit smiles, flexes, and poses for the camera while on the beach in Provincetown, Mass.
Man poses and makes a heart-shape with his arms on a beach in Provincetown, Mass., circa 1950s
Various men on the beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts, with one man in a striped bathing suit smiling for the camera and posing with his hands over his head in a heart shape.
Woman on a pier in Provincetown, Mass.
An older woman wearing pearls sips a drink and reads a paper on a pier or dock over the water in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Eddie Bernier stands in the ruins of a pier on a beach in Provincetown, circa 1950s
Edward (Eddie) Bernier stands behind what appears to be the ruins of a pier on a beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The photograph is blurry, but Eddie appears to be wearing a towel and is holding something in his hand.
Man in home-made outfit and hat on beach in Provincetown, Mass., circa 1950s
A man wearing a wig and home-made outfit or dress sits on the beach and is wrapped in what appears to be an inflated beach float.
Ace of Spades Club postcard addressed to Eddie Bernier, 1958
A postcard addressed to Mr. Ed. Bernis (Edward Bernier) at his Cambridge, Massachusetts, address (175 Elm Street). The front of the postcard shows the interior of the Ace of Spades Club in Provincetown, Massachusetts, while the message on the card…
Eddie Bernier and acquaintances in costumes in a Provincetown bar or restaurant, circa 1950s
Edward (Eddie) Bernier, center with white gloves, sitting at a table covered with beer bottles at a bar or restaurant in Provincetown, Massachusetts. At the table are three acquaintances, all posing for the camera. The four of them are dressed up,…
A man wearing a hat and a home-made outfit or costume on the beach in Provincetown, Mass., circa 1950s
A man wearing a hat, sunglasses, and what appears to be a large puffy dress, stands next to an overturned beach umbrella in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Eddie Bernier on a beach in Provincetown, Mass., wrapped in a towel, circa 1950s
Edward (Eddie) Bernier standing on the beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts, wearing what appears to be an outfit made out of towels.
Man on Provincetown, Mass., beach with feathers in his hat, crica 1950s
Photograph of a man lying on the beach wearing shorts and a brimmed hat with feathers in it.
A sleeping or posing man wearing feathers on the beach in Provincetown, Mass.
A man in a feather boa outfit lies on an inflated beach float, apparently sleeping or posing on a beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Man in a boa on the beach in Provincetown, Mass., circa 1950s
A man in hat, sunglasses, and a feather boa lies on the beach in Provincetown, Mass.
Three men drinking on the beach in Provincetown, Mass., curca 1950s
Three men in bathing suits pose on the beach in Provincetown, Mass. Two of the men hold cans of the beer and another is smoking a cigarette. More men can be seen in the background.
Eddie Bernier and George Chapin Scott on the beach in Provincetown, circa 1950s
Edward (Eddie) Bernier (at left) and George Chapin Scott posing on the beach in bathing suits in Provincetown, Massachusetts. George has his arm around Eddie and Eddie is holding a towel and smiling.
Eddie Bernier in a towel on a pier or dock in Provincetown, Mass., circa 1950s
Edward (Eddie) Bernier, wearing a towel on his head and another wrapped around his body, sits on a table on a pier or dock in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
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