Branson, E. C. (Eugene Cunningham), 1861-1933

Branson was an educator, author, and editor, president of the State Normal School of Georgia, 1900-1912, head of its department of rural economics and sociology, 1912-1914, and founder and head of the rural social economics program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

From the description of E. C. Branson papers, 1895-1933. WorldCat record id: 25031620

Eugene Cunningham Branson (1861-1933) was an educator, author, and editor, president of the State Normal School of Georgia, 1900-1912, head of its department of rural economics and sociology, 1912-1914, and founder and head of the rural social economics program at the University of North Carolina. Branson was born in Morehead City, N.C., to Reverend Levi and Edith Cunningham Branson. He was educated at Trinity College and Peabody Normal College in Nashville, Tenn.

For fourteen years Branson worked in secondary education as principal of a high school in Raleigh, N.C., and in Atlanta, Ga. While in Athens, he wrote three publications for use in public schools: Methods of Teaching Arithmetic (1896), Methods of Reading and Spelling (1896), and a chapter in Pages Theory and Practice of Teaching entitled, Fitness to Teach (1899). Branson was appointed a professor of pedagogy at Georgia Normal and Industrial School, Milledgeville, Ga., 1897-1900; president of the State Normal School of Georgia in Athens, 1900-1914; founder of the Georgia Club; professor and head of the department of rural social economics at the University of North Carolina; editor of the weekly University News Letter ; and organizer of the North Carolina Club.

In 1919 Branson was awarded a Litt.D. degree form the University of Georgia at Athens and was also appointed a Kenan professor at the University of North Carolina. In 1923 he traveled to Europe to study agriculture and wrote the widely acclaimed Farm Life Abroad (1924). Branson supervised county government studies of most North Carolina counties and wrote and spoke extensively on the problems of farm tenancy, illiteracy, and rural credit; and took an active part in statewide movements concerning reclamation of farm land, better port terminal facilities, and good roads.

From the guide to the E. C. Branson Papers, 1895-1933, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)