Meta Berger | Wisconsin Historical Society

Historical Essay

Berger, Meta 1873-1944

Meta Berger | Wisconsin Historical Society
Dictionary of Wisconsin History.

b. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1873
d. Wisconsin, 1944

Milwaukee socialist leader, educator, and spouse of Victor Berger; attended Milwaukee normal school, was a member of the Milwaukee school board (1909-1939), and the state board of education (1917-1919). She was a normal school regent (1927-1928) and a university regent (1928-1934). A vigorous champion of woman suffrage, during and after World War I she devoted her interests to keeping the U.S. at peace. She succeeded to her husband's seat on the executive committee of the Socialist party but disagreements over Soviet Russia, united-front activities, and war policy led to a rupture in 1936, and her resignation in 1940. Dict. Amer. Biog.; M. Wachman, Hist. of Social-Democratic Party of Milwaukee (Urbana, 1945); Milwaukee Leader, Aug. 7, 1930; Voice and Pen of V. L. Berger (Milwaukee, 1929); V. L. Berger Papers in Milwaukee Co. Hist. Soc.; Milwaukee Journal, June 17, 1944.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin Biography (Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1960).]