E. N. (Ned) Brandt
The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.
Interview Details
Interview Sessions
Abstract of Interview
E. N. (Ned) Brandt, company historian of The Dow Chemical Company and a major figure in Dow's public relations activities for over three decades, begins the interview by touching on his family background and early education, before recalling his activities in news writing positions during high school and journalism school at Michigan State. Brandt joined a quartermaster ROTC unit in 1941, went through Officer Candidate School, and in 1944 volunteered for overseas duty. He describes several interesting experiences during the war in France when he was an intelligence officer and a public relations officer. After a brief stint with UPI in Detroit, Brandt returned to France and worked for the French broadcasting system and the State Department at the Paris embassy. He discusses his work in France, art studies in Paris, and travels to Algeria. In 1953 Brandt resigned from the foreign service and joined Dow. This section of the interview includes recollections of Dow's early public relations department and Bud Smith, and work with Bill Schuette as public relations manager of the newly created Midland Division. Brandt next discusses his concerns as assistant director and then director of public relations in the 1960s, including such topics as Dow's global reorganization in 1965, speech writing for Dow's top executives, environmental issues, The Dow Story, and outside involvement with public affairs organizations. In describing his activities during the 1970s and 1980s, Brandt talks about a visit to Chile, public relations in South Africa, difficulties with Mark Batterson during Zoltan Merszei's tenure as president of Dow, the TV Hot Box, the origins of Dow's history function and the Dow archives, his own decision to retire, and the Futures Initiative. The closing segments of the transcript focus on Brandt's outside activities, especially for historical societies and foundations.
Education
Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
---|---|---|---|
1943 | Michigan State University | BA | Journalism |
Professional Experience
US Army
United Press International
French Broadcasting System
US Embassy, Paris
Dow Chemical Company
Honors
Year(s) | Award |
---|---|
Brandt Professorship, Michigan State University |
|
Director, Michigan Chapter, Public Relations Society of America |
|
Chairman, Public Relations Committee, Chemical Manufacturers Association |
|
The Golden Workshop |
|
President, Foundation for Public Relations Research and Education |
|
Chairman, Public Relations Seminar, National Organization of Corporate Public Relations Directors |
|
Committee to Re-Elect the President (Nixon) |
|
The Wise Men |
|
Secretary, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation |
|
Secretary, Pardee Foundation |
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Vice President, Midland Foundation |
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Member, Board of Directors, Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation |
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Vice President and Secretary, Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation |
|
Council of Michigan Foundations |
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Chairman, Michigan Division Council, American Red Cross |
|
Chairman, Hall of Ideas Management Council, Midland Center for the Arts |
|
Midland County Historical Society |
|
Historical Society of Michigan |
|
President, Saginaw Valley Torch Club |
|
Rotary International |
About the Interviewer
James J. Bohning was professor emeritus of chemistry at Wilkes University, where he had been a faculty member from 1959 to 1990. He served there as chemistry department chair from 1970 to 1986 and environmental science department chair from 1987 to 1990. Bohning was chair of the American Chemical Society’s Division of the History of Chemistry in 1986; he received the division’s Outstanding Paper Award in 1989 and presented more than forty papers at national meetings of the society. Bohning was on the advisory committee of the society’s National Historic Chemical Landmarks Program from its inception in 1992 through 2001 and is currently a consultant to the committee. He developed the oral history program of the Chemical Heritage Foundation, and he was CHF’s director of oral history from 1990 to 1995. From 1995 to 1998, Bohning was a science writer for the News Service group of the American Chemical Society. In May 2005, he received the Joseph Priestley Service Award from the Susquehanna Valley Section of the American Chemical Society. Bohning passed away in September 2011.