Notice to commercial publishers seeking use of images from this collection of chess-related archive blogs. For use of the many large color restorations, two conditions must be met: 1) It is YOUR responsibility to obtain written permissions for use from the current holders of rights over the original b/w photo. Then, 2) make a tax-deductible donation to The Gift of Chess in honor of Robert J. Fischer-Newspaper Archives. A donation in the amount of $250 USD or greater is requested for images above 2000 pixels and other special request items. For small images, such as for fair use on personal blogs, all credits must remain intact and a donation is still requested but negotiable. Please direct any photographs for restoration and special request (for best results, scanned and submitted at their highest possible resolution), including any additional questions to S. Mooney, at bobbynewspaperblogs•gmail. As highlighted in the ABC News feature, chess has numerous benefits for individuals, including enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improving concentration and memory, and promoting social interaction and community building. Initiatives like The Gift of Chess have the potential to bring these benefits to a wider audience, particularly in areas where access to educational and recreational resources is limited.
| Best of Chess | Fischer Newspaper Archives | Chess Columns |
Additional Archives/Social Media
• Bobby Fischer, 1955-2008
• Newspaper Chess Games Archive • Best of Chess History • Chess Column + Notes • Centuries of Chess • Chess Notation Conversion • Sideline Studies • Chess Hall of Shame |
August 18 1949
The Evening Star, Washington, D. C. Thursday, August 18, 1949
Engagement
Mr. and Mrs. Otto A. Patermaster of Lorton, Va., announce the engagement of their daughter, Gene Cressman to Mr. Jeffrey C. Bortner, sson of Mrs. Laura Bortner and the late Mr. Clair J. Bortner of York, Pa.
The bride-elect is a graduate of George Washington University where she received a degree in radio speech.
No date has been set for the wedding.
August 08 1950
York Daily Record, York, Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 08, 1950
Jeffrey Bortner Admitted To Bar
Jeffrey Clair Bortner, of 212 South Beaver street, was admitted yesterday morning to practice law in the York county courts.
Motion for his admission to the bar was made by Attorney J. Edgar Small, in whose office he served his clerkship. Judge Walter I. Anderson, who granted the motion, congratulated Bortner on his achievement and wished him success in his career.
The new attorney is the son of Mrs. Laura Bortner, 1052 Mt. Rose avenue. He was married Feb. 21 to the former Gene Cressman Patermaster, of Lorton, Va., and Washington, D. C.
He was graduated in 1941 from William Penn Senior High school, where he was active in student government and dramatics and was listed in “Who's Who in American High schools.” He then entered George Washington university in Washington.
In 1943 Bortner enlisted in the Army, and after service in the European and Mediterranean theaters was promoted to the rank of captain. During part of his service he was a rifle platoon leader in the 28th Infantry regiment and was decorated for heroism in successfully assaulting German defensive positions in the Sieg river.
Later he was appointed aide-de-camp to the commanding general of the Eighth Infantry division. His decorations include the Combat Infantry badge. Bronze Star with Oak Leaf cluster, and the Army Medal of Merit.
At George Washington, where Bortner received his degree, Attorney Bortner was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, membership in which is based on scholastic achievement. He also attended Indiana university and Pennsylvania State college.
He will open his office for the general practice of law at 31 South Duke street.
May 12 1952
The Gazette and Daily, York, Pennsylvania, Monday, May 12, 1952
Chess Tourney Ends in Draw
Youngest among the 23 entrants was Jay Bortner, seven-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bortner, 63 East street.
Attorney Jeffrey C. Bortner, club president, served as director of the two day tournament.
Trophies and consolation prizes will be presented at the Chess club's annual meeting in the YMCA at 6:30 p.m. June 5. A special brilliancy prize for the most outstanding game of the tournament will be made after judging of tournament game charts by I. A. Horowitz, New York, former U.S. chess champion and editor of Chess Review.
February 16 1965
The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, Tuesday, February 16, 1965
'Rebellion' At Institute
Mavericks at the Mechanics By Harry Bergman
Two maverick candidates, a mechanic and a professor, are injecting some spice into the usually cut and dried election of trustees to the governing board of the Mechanics' Institute and Library.
“It's high time that a mechanic be put on the board to loosen the tight-knit group we've had for years and years,” declared Kurt Josef Bendit, a consultant to the mechanical contracting firm of C. S. Hardeman, Inc.
“A little new blood will be good for the cultural life of San Francisco,” said Dr. Henry J. Ralston, physiology professor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
“Theodore R. Meyer, institute president and a regent of the University of California, replied that “our election procedures are as democratic as they could possibly be.”
Welcomes Entry
He welcomed the entry of Bendit and Ralston. Nine candidates are running for seven seats in the annual election to the 111 year old institute's board of 14 trustees.
“I think it is a healthy thing to have a contested election now and then,” said Meyer, a San Francisco attorney who became a U. C. regent ex officio when he was chosen president of the Mechanics' Institute, as specified under the State Constitution.
As a result of this year's contest, a considerably larger voter response among the institute's 5,650 members is expected. Ballots mailed to the members will be counted next Tuesday.
The lineup features Bendit and Ralston against the administration slate of seven incumbents.
Autocracy
Bendit, a wiry man of 41 who has belonged to the institute for 23 years, contends that the “system of choosing our trustees has developed into something like a self-perpetuating kind of autocracy.” One of the trustees, he said, has been on the board for 20 years.
“With all the high-falutin' qualifications of the present incumbents—capturing industry and commerce of lawyers and doctors—there isn't one among them who is as intimately familiar as I am with the mechanical problems of the institute,” he said, including the institute's nine-story building at 57 Post Street.
One plank in Bendit's platform calls for improvements and modernization of chess room to the benefit of approximately 1,000 members who play the ancient game.
On that point, Ralston, whose membership number (3647) is the same as that held by his father and grandfather in the past 75 years, agrees with Bendit.
Ralston also advocates a renaissance of such events as lecture series, exhibitions and the “famous” Mechanics' Fairs which he said “somehow passed out of existence” in the Institute's programs during the 1920s.
President Meyer recalled there have been “several” contested trustee elections in the past five or six years.
As to the cries for improvements in the fourth-floor chess room, Meyer said the “great majority of people” who use the room are “pleased with the service they get” for yearly dues that have remained fixed at $6 since the Institute was founded.
'til the world understands why Robert J. Fischer criticised the U.S./British and Russian military industry imperial alliance and their own Israeli Apartheid. Sarah Wilkinson explains: Tweets by swilkinsonbc |
 “What a sad story Fischer was,” typed a racist, pro-imperialist colonial troll who supports mega-corporation entities over human rights, police state policies & white supremacy. |
To which I replied: “Really? I think he [Bob Fischer] stood up to the broken system of corruption and raised awareness! Whether on the Palestinian/Israel-British-U.S. Imperial Apartheid scam, the Bush wars of ‘7 countries in 5 years,’ illegally, unconstitutionally which constituted mass xenocide or his run in with police brutality in Pasadena, California-- right here in the U.S., police run rampant over the Constitution of the U.S., on oath they swore to uphold, but when Americans don't know the law, and the cops either don't know or worse, “don't care” -- then I think that's pretty darn “sad”. I think Mr. Fischer held out and fought the good fight, steadfast til the day he died, and may he Rest In Peace. Educate yourself about U.S./State Laws -- https://www.youtube.com/@AuditTheAudit/videos After which the troll posted a string of profanities, confirming there was never any genuine sentiment of “compassion” for Mr. Fischer, rather an intent to inflict further defamatory remarks. |
This ongoing work is a tribute to the life and accomplishments of Robert “Bobby” Fischer who passionately loved and studied chess history. May his life continue to inspire many other future generations of chess enthusiasts and kibitzers, alike.
March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008The photograph of Bobby Fischer (above) from the March 02, 1956 The Tampa Times was discovered by Sharon Mooney (Bobby Fischer Newspaper Archive editor) on February 01, 2018 while gathering research materials for this ongoing newspaper archive project. Along with lost games now being translated into Algebraic notation and extractions from over two centuries of newspapers, it is but one of the many lost treasures to be found in the pages of old newspapers since our social media presence was first established November 11, 2017.
