This series documents Bernstein's work with Human Rights Watch (HRW) through correspondence, clippings, meeting agendas and minutes, and publications of HRW and Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa. Material in this series dates between 1986 and 2016, with the bulk between 2000 and 2009. The bulk of the material focuses on HRW's coverage of Israel and Palestine, with correspondence between Bernstein, HRW staff, and people outside the organization analysing events in the region; op-eds by Bernstein on events in the region and relations within HRW; clippings; and publications by HRW.

This series documents Bernstein's career at Random House, with a focus on his relationship with Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss). Material in this series dates between 1925 and 2001 and includes correspondence, contracts, interoffice memoranda, a scrapbook of Dr. Seuss material, artwork, clippings, and oral history interviews with Bernstein regarding his time at Random House. The bulk of this material dates between 1963 and 1991 and pertains to Geisel's relationship with Random House, both as a writer and the president of the Beginners Books division. This material includes correspondence, interoffice memoranda, contracts, photographs, artwork by Geisel, and a scrapbook of material documenting his relationship with Random House. Correspondence and interoffice memoranda between Bernstein, Geisel, Helen Geisel, and Phyllis Jackson concerns renegotiations of Geisel's contract with Random House and his financial compensation from the company. Other material in this series includes transcripts and sound recordings of Bernstein's interviews as part of an oral history of Random House conducted in 2001 and letters from Alfred A. Knopf.

This series documents Bernstein's human rights work outside of Human Rights Watch and his relationships with other charitable organizations. Material in this series dates between 1980 and 2014, with the bulk dating between 1993 and 2008. Bernstein's work with Human Rights in China (HRIC), the Sigrid Rausing Trust, Bard College's Institute for International Liberal Education and Bard Prison Initiative, and Legal Services for Children (later Partnership for Children's Rights), is documented by correspondence, meeting agenda and minutes, publications, clippings, podcast episodes, and a digital video recording. Included in this series is material related to Bernstein's work and personal relationships with Chinese dissidents Xu Wenli and Wei Jingsheng and his efforts to support their work in the United States. Filed under their names, drafts and published versions of print and born-digital writings by Xu and Wei may be found as well as digital photographs of Bernstein and Xu. Other material includes podcast episodes recorded by HRIC featuring interviews with participants of the 1989 Democracy Movement, a digital video recording produced by the Bard Prison Initiative about their program, subject files compiled by Bernstein on topics of interest to him, and speeches and op-eds written by Bernstein on human rights issues in general and in the Middle East in particular.

This series contains materials collected by Bernstein throughout his career and while writing his autobiography, Speaking Freely: My Life in Publishing and Human Rights. Material in this series dates between 1956 and 2016, with the bulk between 1994 and 2007. Material includes clippings about Bernstein regarding his work in publishing and human rights, correspondence, notes and drafts of op-eds written by Bernstein, drafts and reviews of Speaking Freely, speeches given by and about Bernstein, and awards conferred upon Bernstein. There is some duplication of material that can be found in Series I, II, and III. This series contains biographies of Bernstein for organizational publications and event programs, different versions of Bernstein's curriculum vitae, and scrapbooks compiled by Bernstein. The scrapbooks document Bernstein's career in publishing and human rights, and include compilations of material listed above, including clippings, speeches, and awards.