- Table of Contents
- Administrative Information
- Biographical Note
- Scope and Content Note
- Container List
Kristina Berster Papers
Collection Summary
- Repository
- University of Vermont Libraries. Special Collections Burlington, Vermont 05405-3596
- Creator
- Berster, Kristina
- Title
- Kristina Berster Papers
- Dates
- 1978-1979
- Abstract:
- The Kristina Berster Collection consists of one box, which contains case records and proceedings, correspondence and mailings produced by the Kristina Berster Defense Committee, articles on case related topics, news clippings, photographs, a sketchbook, and a few letters by Kristina Berster.
- Quantity:
- 1.25 Linear feet1 Carton
- Collection Number:
- mss.002
- Location:
- Special Collections, Bailey/Howe Library.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of item] Kristina Berster Papers, Special Collections, University of Vermont Library
Biographical Note
Kristina Berster was born in West Germany in 1950(?). She studied Psychology at the University of Heidelberg in 1970. In 1971, she was arrested for associating with known terrorists and held for six months. A trial date for this charge was set for March, 1973. Kristina Berster left W. Germany in self-imposed exile and, from 1973-1978, she moved around Europe and then worked with the Red Cross in South Yemen. She traveled to Quebec, Canada, from where she crossed the border into Vermont in the spring of 1978.
July 16, 1978, Kristina Berster was arrested in Alburg, VT, and charged with illegal entry into the U.S. The trial was set for October 3, 1978, in Burlington, VT. February 7, 1979, Judge Albert Coffrin sentenced her to serve nine months in prison; however, she had only sixteen days left to serve in that sentence.
W. Germany requested the extradition of Kristina Berster, who applied to the U.S. State Department for political asylum, and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service began deportation proceedings. Berster was moved to New York City to wait for the decision of her asylum/deportation hearings and her request for release on bail was denied. W. Germany then dropped their extradition request and offered Berster leniency if she returned voluntarily. Kristina Berster returned to W. Germany on October 31, 1979, where she was released with the condition that she report periodically to authorities.
Scope and Content Note
The Kristina Berster Collection consists of one box, which contains case records and proceedings, correspondence and mailings produced by the Kristina Berster Defense Committee, articles on case related topics, news clippings, photographs, a sketchbook, and a few letters by Kristina Berster. The collection was acquired from a former member of the Kristina Berster Defense Committee. This committee was formed to aid Berster's Defense by providing paralegal aid, to raise awareness of her case, to raise funds to aid in her defense, and to support her application for asylu
Restrictions
Publication Rigths:
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.