View XML QR Code

Edgar Bernard Brossard papers, 1917-1962

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Brossard, Edgar Bernard, 1889-1980.
Title
Edgar Bernard Brossard papers
Dates
1917-1962 (inclusive)
Quantity
54 boxes, (20 linear ft.)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 004
Summary
Correspondence and other papers of Dr. Brossard, including materials dealing with his own education; lecture notes from teaching farm management at Utah State University; materials from his term as Farm Administration Agent in Utah; materials on the Brossard family; correspondence, articles, addresses, clippings and other materials dealing with the U.S. Tariff Commission; materials concerning sugar beet industry investigations from the 1920s and 1930s; Brossard's articles on foreign trade written the 1920s-1940s; materials dealing with Brossard's missions to France and New England for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and his church work in Washington D.C. Includes photostat of final letter from President Eisenhower to Dr. Brossard complementing him upon years of service.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions
Restrictions

Open to public research.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Return to Top

Biographical Note

Edgar B. Brossard was born on April 1, 1889 in Oxford, Idaho to Amable Alphonse and Mary Catherine Hobson Brossard. He was the eighth of twelve children. In 1889, Brossard's mother passed away and two years later, his father remarried and moved the family to Logan, Utah. Brossard attended the prep school for the Utah Agricultural College (now Utah State University). He graduated in 1911 from USU in economics having lettered in four sports as well.

In late 1911, Brossard accepted a call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Swiss-German mission. He was assigned to France and later became president at age twenty-three of the newly organized Paris, France mission.

He was released in 1914 and returned to Logan where under the direction of the Department of Agriculture and the UAC he led a farm management program designed to teach farmers how to better manage their finances. In 1915, he married Laura Parkinson Cowley. Brossard eventually continued his education at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where he earned an MA in 1917, and a PhD in 1920. Laura also continued her education earning an MA degree from the University of Chicago.

In 1923, Brossard was appointed to the staff of the U.S. Tariff Commission to help research the effects of tariffs on U.S. agriculture. In 1925, President Coolidge nominated him to fill a vacancy on the commission. Democrats vigorously opposed his appointment because of his protectionist leanings and he was not confirmed until 1927. Brossard continued serving on this board until his retirement in 1959. During that time, he traveled abroad many times for tariff and trade conferences, both with foreign governments and with the United Nations. He also became a personal acquaintance of five U.S. Presidents and was chairman of the commission for seven years. Also during his time in Washington he held many positions in the LDS Church and oversaw the construction of the now-famous LDS Chapel in Washington, D.C. During these years Mrs. Brossard worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Home Economics and held many church positions.

Edgar Brossard retired in 1959 and government, civic, religious, and international leaders including President Dwight D. Eisenhower paid many tributes to him. Brossard planned to retire to Utah, but was asked to serve as a Mission President in the New England Mission of the LDS Church. In one year, he oversaw substantial growth both in members and in church organization, as well as participating in the construction of a monument in Sharon, Vermont to honor Joseph Smith, founder of the LDS Church. In 1959 Brossard was suddenly transferred to Paris to ‘clean up' the Paris France Mission. Nine missionaries were excommunicated and various church members were disciplined for teaching doctrine that was not in harmony with the church's official canon before the situation calmed. Brossard remained mission president in Paris until 1961. His administration in France yielded impressive growth in membership and those he served commended his leadership.

In 1961, Brossard and his wife retired to Salt Lake City, Utah where they continued to be active in many clubs and organizations in addition to many Church functions. He served on the Sunday School General Board for the LDS Church, as a Bishop, and as a worker in the Salt Lake Temple. Laura Brossard passed away on March 6, 1976. She was 83. Edgar Brossard died four years later on August 23, 1980. He was 91. Both are buried in the Salt Lake City cemetery.

Sources:

Knowles, Eleanor, "Biography of Edgar B. Brossard: Government, Church & Civic Leader," 1974 (SC call # 920 B793-K)

Mehr, Kahlile, "The Trial of the French Mission," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 21, No. 3, Autumn 1988 (SC call # 289.305 D541, 1988)

Return to Top

Content Description

The Papers of Dr. Edgar B. Brossard, one of Utah State University's most distinguished alumni, form a significant part of the Library's manuscript collections. Covering Dr. Brossard's career as scientist, educator, U.S. Tariff Commissioner, author, and churchman, the collection documents a time as much as a man.

This collection is largely based on Dr. Brossard's correspondence with various individuals. Subsequent boxes reflect his intimate role in the United States Trade Commission as well as his influence in shaping national economic policy. This collection offers wonderful insight into a man who was significant civic and religious in Utah and in Washington D.C. from 1920 to his death in 1980.

An addendum collection of Brossard's papers (Coll Mss 220) also exists, containing personal items relating to the civic, religious, and business aspects of Dr. Brossard's work and that of his wife, Laura Cowley Brossard, as he traveled throughout the world fulfilling his duties both as a member and chairman of the United States Tariff Commission, and as a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It consists of letters, photographs, postcards and newspapers about Dr. Brossard's personal interests especially his church work. Many of Laura Brossard's letters, articles, and personal letters are also included.

USU Special Collections also houses the photographs of the Edgar B. Brossard family. These photographs (amounting to eleven boxes of material) have been separated and catalogued as: PO111: The Edgar B. Brossard Photograph Collection.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Permission to publish material from the Edgar B. Brossard papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Edgar B. Brossard papers, 1917-1962. (COLL MSS 004). Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Department.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Chronological by type in three sections: Correspondence (alphabetic), Tariff Commission Work, and Church Activities.

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were donated to USU Special Collections & Archives by Mr. and Mrs. Edgar B. Brossard between the years of October 1967 and 1973.

Related Materials

Edgar B. Brossard addendumCOLL MSS 220

Edgar B. Brossard photograph collectionP0111

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
2008

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West