This collection primarily focuses on Berman's political career during her tenure with the Michigan House of Representatives from 1982 to 1996. Biographical materials include an audio interview of Berman discussing her experience as a delegate to the 1976 Democratic National Convention, materials pertaining to her book The Only Boobs in the House Are Men: A Veteran Woman Legislator Lifts the Lid on Politics Macho Style, photographs, and numerous articles highlighting her career, as well as women in politics.
The collection also includes correspondence, publications, reports, speeches, and other materials primarily focusing on civil rights, education reform, election law, fiscal concerns, and women's health and reproductive rights. Of particular note are materials pertaining to the death penalty and assisted suicide; the performance, curriculum, and operation of charter schools; legislative redistricting; voter registration and campaign finance reform; financial mismanagement at the House Fiscal Agency; the Balanced Budget Amendment; and issues surrounding women's health and reproductive rights including the legalization of abortion and related issues surrounding informed and parental consent.
Other materials in the collection touch upon issues surrounding informed consent for breast cancer treatment options, the accreditation of mammography facilities in Michigan, flag burning, and family values, including materials focusing on the Michigan Department of Social Service's (DSS) attempt to reunite incest victims with their offenders.
Lifelong Michigan resident and graduate of the University of Michigan (LSA, 1968), Maxine L. Berman was a fourteen-year veteran of the Michigan legislature, serving between 1982 and 1996. Berman worked with and led countless organizations, committees, and initiatives on behalf of women's rights, civil rights, education, economics, family values, and election laws in the state of Michigan. A few of her most notable accomplishments include the passing of two bills: one requiring the inspection and accreditation of mammography machines and facilities, and the other requiring doctors to present women with information about alternatives to mastectomy. Berman was also a staunch pro-choice advocate who made strong arguments against informed and parental consent, especially in cases involving teenaged girls, and victims of incest and rape.
Her efforts to increase the number of women in the Michigan legislature were equally impressive. In 1992, Berman chaired the House Committee on Legislative reapportionment and strove to balance the numbers of men and women legislators assigned to districts. Berman also chaired the Michigan Women's Campaign Fund - a bipartisan organization, which raises money to help women run for office. In 1994, Berman published The Only Boobs in the House Are Men: A Veteran Woman Legislator Lifts the Lid on Politics MacHo Style. The text was a potent study exposing the gender gaps within the Michigan State Legislature, the Federal government, and other state legislatures.
Berman's work on election law and education reform were just as extensive. She chaired the House Elections Committee for six years and was known for her work in expediting voter registration and campaign finance reform. A former high school English teacher, Berman joined the House Bipartisan Team and worked to create a new system to fund Michigan's public schools and maintain curriculum goals and standards. She also served on the Appropriations Committee overseeing numerous sub-committees on public health, transportation, civil service, economics, and the environment.
Berman retired from politics in 1996. In 1997, she was included on the Crain's Detroit Business' Detroit's One Hundred Most Influential Women. ALso in 1997, she founded Capital Strategies, Inc., a political consulting and advocacy training organization. During this time she simultaneously served as the Director of the Women's Health Network of Michigan. In 2003, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Berman as Director of Special Projects. Berman left the post in 2008. In 2009, she became the first woman to serve as Central Michigan University's Griffin Endowed Chair. She continue to work in this capacity through 2013. In 2015, Berman was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
Berman officially retired in 2015. She passed away in 2018.
