Murrow, Edward R., 1908-1965

Edward R. Murrow was born as Egbert Roscoe Murrow on April 25, 1908 near Greensboro, North Carolina. He graduated from Washington State College in 1930 and then served a two-year term as president of the National Student Federation of America. He joined the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced German Scholars in 1933 and did occasional radio talks. Based on these broadcasts he was hired as director of talks and education for CBS in 1935. In 1934 he married Janet Brewster, a 1933 Mount Holyoke College graduate, who served on the board of trustees for three terms. In 1937 they went to London while Edward was head of the CBS European Bureau. He stayed in Europe throughout the war, covering the Battle of Britain and the Munich Conference, among other events. When he returned to the United States he became vice president of the news at CBS. In 1951 he moved from radio to television, with a documentary called "See it now." In 1953, in the height of McCarthyism, Murrow aired a program which forced the secretary of the Air Force to review its policies. Additional programs brought similar results. In 1961 Murrow left CBS to become director of the U.S. Information Agency under President Kennedy. He retired in 1964, and died the following year.

European director, Columbia Broadcasting System, 1937-1946.

Edward [Egbert] Roscoe Murrow was born on April 25, 1908, near Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the youngest of three boys born to Roscoe and Ethel Murrow. The family moved to Blanchard, Washington when Murrow was five. Subsequently, Murrow attended Washington State College in Pullman, Washington, graduating in 1930. He was president of the National Student Federation from 1929 to 1932 and assistant director of the Institute of International Education from 1932 to 1935. In 1934 he married Janet Brewster. Their son, Charles Casey, was born November 6, 1945, in West London. Murrow was hired by CBS in 1935 and worked for them until 1961. During those years he worked as war correspondent in London, 1939 to 1945, vice president, director of public affairs, 1945 to 1947, and news analyst and host for the television programs "Person to Person," "See It Now," and "Small World" during the 1950s. He was on the CBS board of directors from 1949 to 1955. In 1961, Edward R. Murrow was appointed director of the United States Information Agency (USIA), serving until 1964. He died on April 27, 1965.

Epithet: European Director Columbia Broadcasting System Inc

Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965) was a radio and television broadcaster who was the most influential and esteemed figure in American broadcast journalism during its formative years. The Murrow Center of Public Diplomacy at the Fletcher School is named in his honor. Murrow's library and papers, along with memorabilia from his career were donated to Tufts and are held by the University Archives.

Biographical/Historical Note

European director, Columbia Broadcasting System, 1937-1946.

Edward [Egbert] Roscoe Murrow was born on April 25, 1908, near Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the youngest of three boys born to Roscoe and Ethel Murrow. The family moved to Blanchard, Washington when Murrow was five. Subsequently, Murrow attended Washington State College in Pullman, Washington, graduating in 1930. He was president of the National Student Federation from 1929 to 1932 and assistant director of the Institute of International Education from 1932 to 1935. In 1934 he married Janet Brewster. Their son, Charles Casey, was born November 6, 1945, in West London.

Murrow was hired by CBS in 1935 and worked for them until 1961. During those years he worked as war correspondent in London, 1939 to 1945, vice president, director of public affairs, 1945 to 1947, and news analyst and host for the television programs Person to Person, See It Now, and Small World during the 1950s. He was on the CBS board of directors from 1949 to 1955. In 1961, Edward R. Murrow was appointed director of the United States Information Agency (USIA), serving until 1964. He died on April 27, 1965.