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)
Scope & Content Note:
The Edgar B. Brossard Addendum collection contains personal items relating to the civic, religious, and business aspects of Dr.
Brossard’s work and that of his wife, Laura Cowley Brossard, as he traveled through-out the world fulfilling his duties both as a member
and chairman of the United States Tariff Commission, and as a tireless leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This
collection offers a wonderful insight into a man who was influential in both civic and religious matters in Utah and in Washington, D.C. from
1924 to his death in 1980. The collection contains letters, photographs, postcards and newspapers about Dr. Brossard’s personal
interests, especially in his church service. Many of Laura Brossard’s letters, articles, and personal letters are also included.
For more information: 435/797-2663; Manuscript Librarian.
Special Collections & Archives, Merrill Library, Utah State University Libraries, Utah State University 84322-3000
