Biographical Note
Earl Brandenburg began his lifetime affiliation with the YMCA as a teen member of the La Crosse (Wis.) YMCA. As a 20-year-old, he was employed as the Boys’ Work secretary in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was involved in YMCA War Work in San Antonio (Texas) and Michigan before enlisting in the Navy.
After the war, he served as the town and country secretary for the Wisconsin State Committee, and later, as the Chicago-based regional Boys’ Work secretary on the national staff. In 1927, Brandenburg was named regional executive in Chicago and organized the system of area councils to coordinate the work of National Council and state committees. Six years later, as the associate general secretary of the National Council, he supported the continued development of area organizations throughout the U.S. and implemented a new percentage financing formula.
From 1936 to 1940, Brandenburg served as general secretary of the St. Louis County (Mo.) YMCA. He was appointed director of the YMCA Retirement Fund in 1940, and was responsible for revamping the operations and increasing the investments of the Fund, which had suffered in the Great Depression. Under his leadership, the Fund gained stability and its assets grew from $18 million to $103 million. Brandenburg was a trustee of both Springfield College and George Williams College.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
Folder — Box 09: Series 02, Folder: 19
Identifier: 02
Series 02 Scope and Contents
From the Series:
This series is arranged chronologically by year, and within each year, the materials are arranged by type, including: videos and photographs of the induction ceremonies, programs and/or invitations to the ceremonies, memos, planning committee minutes, budget notes, and other organizational materials, newspaper clippings, biographical information and nominations for the inductees, photographs of the inductees, and information about other nominees from that year. Undated and/or unidentified...
Dates:
ca. 1930-1994
Folder — Box 09: Series 02, Folder: 20
Identifier: 02
Series 02 Scope and Contents
From the Series:
This series is arranged chronologically by year, and within each year, the materials are arranged by type, including: videos and photographs of the induction ceremonies, programs and/or invitations to the ceremonies, memos, planning committee minutes, budget notes, and other organizational materials, newspaper clippings, biographical information and nominations for the inductees, photographs of the inductees, and information about other nominees from that year. Undated and/or unidentified...
Dates:
ca. 1994
Record Group — Box All Boxes
Identifier: RG-103
Abstract
This collection documents the history and governance of the YMCA Hall of Fame at Springfield College and also provides information about individual inductees and induction ceremonies from the Hall of Fame’s founding in 1985 to the present. The purpose of the YMCA Hall of Fame is to provide “a forum to recognize professionals who personify what is best about the YMCA. It honors individuals who have devoted their lives to the building of community, encouraging each person to develop to their...
Dates:
1894 - present; Majority of material found within 1985 - present
