Sue Brandt McBee was born in Hamburg, Germany on September 23, 1923 and moved to Austin with her parents in the late 1920s. She learned to speak English while attending Pease Elementary School in Austin, Texas. When Sue entered Allan Junior High she became interested in journalism. Her first attempts at writing poetry were published in the school newspaper marking the beginning of her journalistic career.
In high school, she became the editor for the school newspaper, the Austin High Maroon. When she entered college at The University of Texas at Austin in the early 1940s, she continued to pursue her love of journalism. She wrote a weekly column titled “Life, Where is Thy Sting?” for the Daily Texan. While in college Sue married engineering student Frank McBee, the eldest son of South Austin Justice of the Peace Frank McBee Sr. After three years of accelerated course work Sue graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in 1943.
Sue Brandt McBee is celebrated as a gifted communicator and tireless civic worker, and has been a vital part of the Austin community for much of her adult life. Her efforts to promote education and historic preservation have changed the face of the Austin community for the better. She has worked for the Austin American-Statesman and established the first corporate public relations office for Tracor, Inc. She was the founding president and instrumental fundraiser for the Austin History Center Association, and now serves as Honorary Chairman. In addition, she serves on the Advisory Council of The University of Texas Press-a publishing house for the University.
From the guide to the Sue Brandt McBee Collection of African American Culture AR. 2001. 020., 1980-2003., 1950-2003., (Austin History Center. Austin Public Library.)
