Brossard, Edgar Bernard, 1889-1980

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Economist with the United States Tariff Commission, 1923-1925. Member, United States Tariff Commission, 1925-1960. Chairman, USTC, 1935; 1953-1960.

From the description of Edgar Bernard Brossard papers, 1917-1962. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 43604048

Edgar Bernard Brossard was born in 1889 in Oxford, Idaho. He grew up in Logan, Utah, and attended the Utah Agricultural College where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Economics in 1911. Brossard married Laura Parkinson Cowley in Salt Lake City in August of 1915. Continuing his education, he earned a M.S. degree and Ph. D in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management from the University of Minnesota between 1916 and 1920. From 1919 until 1923, Bossard served as a faculty member of the Utah Agricultural College Dept. of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management. In 1923, Brossard was selected to serve as a staff member for the U.S. Tariff Commission and was appointed as a commissioner two years later. He worked on the commission for 36 years from 1923 to 1959, serving as chairman in 1935, and 1953 to 1960. Brossard also served in several leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At age 22, Brossard left Utah to serve a full-time LDS mission in France. During his two years in Europe he was called to be the president of the mission area. During his years in Washington, he served as the branch president, bishop, and stake president. Following his retirement from the Tariff Commission, he served as a mission president in New England and again in France from 1959 to 1961. In 1944, Bossard declined the position of president of Utah State University (formerly Utah Agricultural College).

From the description of Edgar B. Brossard photograph collection, 1870-1979 (bulk 1940-1969). (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 51798575

Edgar Bernard Brossard was born in 1889 in Oxford, Idaho. He grew up in Logan, Utah, and attended the Utah Agricultural College where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Economics in 1911. Brossard married Laura Parkinson Cowley in Salt Lake City in August of 1915. Continuing his education, he earned a M.S. degree and Ph. D in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management from the University of Minnesota between 1916 and 1920. From 1919-1923, Bossard served as a faculty member of the Utah Agricultural College Dept. of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management. In 1923, Brossard was selected to serve as a staff member for the U.S. Tariff Commission and was appointed as a commissioner two years later. He worked on the commission for 36 years from 1923-1959, serving as chairman in 1935, and 1953-1960. Brossard also served in several leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At age 22, Brossard left Utah to serve a full-time LDS mission in France. During his two years in Europe he was called to be the president of the mission area. During his years in Washington, he served as the branch president, bishop, and stake president. Following his retirement from the Tariff Commission, he served as a mission president in New England and again in France from 1959-1961.

From the description of Edgar Bernard Brossard interview / by Davis Bitton, Salt Lake City, Utah, 14, 21, and 22 February 1973. 1973. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 56359872

Edgar B. Brossard was born on April 1, 1889 in Oxford, Idaho. 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, Utah. In 1915, he married Laura Parkinson Cowley. 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 and was confirmed in 1927. Brossard continued serving on this board until his retirement in 1959. 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. In 1959, Brossard retired and was asked to serve as a Mission President in the New England Mission of the LDS Church. Later that year, 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. 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.

From the description of Edgar B. Brossard addendum, 1889-1980. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 71203045

Edgar Bernard Brossard (1889-1980) was born in Oxford, Idaho. He grew up in Logan, Utah, and attended the Utah Agricultural College where he graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Economics in 1911. Brossard married Laura Parkinson Cowley (1893-1976) in Salt Lake City in August of 1915. Continuing his education, he earned a Masters degree and Ph.D in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management from the University of Minnesota between 1916 and 1920. From 1919 until 1923, Brossard served as a faculty member of the Utah Agricultural College Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management. In 1923, Brossard was selected to serve as a staff member for the United States Tariff Commission and was appointed as a commissioner two years later. He worked on the commission for 36 years from 1923 to 1959, serving as chairman in 1935 and from 1953 to 1960. In addition to his work with the Tariff Commission, Brossard served in several leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At age 22, Brossard left Utah to serve a full-time LDS mission in France. During his two years in Europe he was called to be the president of the newly reorganized mission area. During his years in Washington, he served as the branch president, bishop, and stake president. Following his retirement from the Tariff Commission, he served as a mission president in New England and once again in France from 1959 to 1961. In 1944, Brossard declined the position of president of Utah State University (formerly Utah Agricultural College).

Further information on Edgar B. Brossard can be found in Manuscript Collection 4, where a manuscript of his biography is included with his papers.

From the guide to the Edgar B. Brossard photograph collection, 1870-1979, 1940-1969, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)

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)

From the guide to the Edgar Bernard Brossard papers, 1917-1962, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)

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)

From the guide to the Edgar B. Brossard addendum, 1889-1980, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)

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Person

Birth 1889-04-01

Death 1980

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