Brommel, Bernard J., 1930-

Professor of speech and performing arts at Indiana State University and at Northeastern Illinois University, Debs biographer, and author.

Dr. Brommel began his study of Eugene V. Debs in 1959 when he moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, to teach at Indiana State University. He interviewed people who knew Debs, and started to collect pamphlets and other source materials by and about Debs, both in Terre Haute, and at repositories holding Debs material, such as the Rand School of Labor in New York City (later transferred to the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University). In Terre Haute he established an acquaintanceship with Marguerite Debs Cooper, the daughter of Theodore Debs, and Eugene V. Debs' niece and last surviving relative.Through this close association, he was able to gather materials for the Debs Foundation (which he helped establish) and to gain access to sources previously unseen by other Debs biographers. He also worked with Ms. Cooper to establish the Debs Collection at Indiana State University in 1967. His book Eugene V. Debs: Spokesman for Labor and Socialism (Chicago: Charles H. Kerr Publishing Co., 1978), is the result of his years of research.

From the description of Bernard J. Brommel-Eugene V. Debs papers, 1886-2003. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 56617470