Seymour Berkson

Berkson was born to a Jewish family^[1] in Chicago, Illinois, the son of immigrants who fled persecution in Russia.^[2][3][4] His father worked as a tailor.^[1] Berkson graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in political science.^[1] He started his career as reporter for the Chicago Herald-Examiner^[5] and worked his way through the ranks eventually becoming general manager of the International News Service^[2][3] where he worked at their news bureaus in Rome and Paris.^[5] He returned to the United States and accepted a position as the publisher for the New York Journal-American in New York City.^[2][3]

Berkson served as chairman of the newspaper committee for Brotherhood Week, the national observance sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews.^[2]

Berkson married twice; he had a daughter, Barbara Berkson Coady (d. 1996), with his first wife, journalist Jane Eads (1901–1992), whom he met at the Chicago Herald-Examiner.^[1][5][6] In 1936, he married fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert (1903–2003); they had one son, poet Bill Berkson (1939–2016).^[7][8] He died on January 5, 1959, in New York City.^[2][3]