Albin C. Bro
Encyclopedia
Albin Carl Bro was a Christian missionary
and educator, United States diplomat, and the fifth president of Shimer College
.
on September 4, 1893. In 1917, he graduated as valedictorian
from Northland College
with a Bachelor of Arts
. He entered into missionary service in China in 1919, working as an educational missionary until 1925, during which time he also served as a school principal. Hed then served for a year (1925–1926) as an instructor at the University of Nanking
. According to the United States State Department Register, he subsequently worked as instructor at Northland College from 1927 to 1929, as a field secretary for a religious education association from 1929 to 1931 and a field worker for a pension fund from 1931 to 1932.
From 1932 to 1939, Bro worked in sales for the University of Chicago Press
. He obtained his Litt.D. degree from the University in 1941. He came to Frances Shimer Junior College as a product of the University of Chicago under Robert Maynard Hutchins.
. In addition, Bro recruited faculty trained at the University of Chicago. These efforts ultimately bore fruit in the more radical transformation that occurred under Bro's successor, Aaron Brumbaugh
.
Throughout Bro's tenure, Shimer was a women's junior college
. It was known as "Frances Shimer Junior College" until 1942 and as "Frances Shimer College" thereafter.
as a cultural attaché on November 25, 1949. He was initially granted only a one-year leave of absence from his Shimer position, as the State Department appointment was tentative. However, Bro continued in this capacity until 1953. He was succeeded as president of Shimer by Aaron Brumbaugh
of the University of Chicago.
After his diplomatic service was complete, Bro returned to the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. In 1956, Bro co-founded the Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship
, a Spiritualist organization, together with Arthur Ford
and Paul Higgins
. He died of a heart attack shortly thereafter, on March 6, 1956, while walking to church.
Albin Bro was the husband of Margueritte Harmon Bro, a prolific writer of children's and religious literature. Their son Harmon Bro later served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Shimer College.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and educator, United States diplomat, and the fifth president of Shimer College
Shimer College
Shimer College is a very small, private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Founded by Frances Wood Shimer in 1853 in the frontier town of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, it was a women's school for most of its first century. It joined with the University of...
.
Early life and education
Bro was born in Prentice, WisconsinPrentice, Wisconsin
Prentice is a village in Price County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 626. The village is located within the Town of Prentice.-Geography:...
on September 4, 1893. In 1917, he graduated as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
from Northland College
Northland College (Wisconsin)
Northland College is a small, coeducational, liberal arts college in Ashland, Wisconsin, USA. Founded as the North Wisconsin Academy in 1892, the college was established in 1906. Originally affiliated with the Congregational Church, the college remains loosely tied to the Congregational Church's...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. He entered into missionary service in China in 1919, working as an educational missionary until 1925, during which time he also served as a school principal. Hed then served for a year (1925–1926) as an instructor at the University of Nanking
University of Nanking
The University of Nanking was a private university in Nanjing, China. The University of Nanking was founded in 1888 and sponsored by American churches...
. According to the United States State Department Register, he subsequently worked as instructor at Northland College from 1927 to 1929, as a field secretary for a religious education association from 1929 to 1931 and a field worker for a pension fund from 1931 to 1932.
From 1932 to 1939, Bro worked in sales for the University of Chicago Press
University of Chicago Press
The University of Chicago Press is the largest university press in the United States. It is operated by the University of Chicago and publishes a wide variety of academic titles, including The Chicago Manual of Style, dozens of academic journals, including Critical Inquiry, and a wide array of...
. He obtained his Litt.D. degree from the University in 1941. He came to Frances Shimer Junior College as a product of the University of Chicago under Robert Maynard Hutchins.
Presidency
Bro assumed the presidency of Shimer College in 1939 and served until 1949. He was the first Shimer president directly associated with the University of Chicago. Under his administration, efforts were made to adopt aspects of the general education curriculum from the College of the University of ChicagoCollege of the University of Chicago
The College is the sole undergraduate institution and one of the oldest components of the University of Chicago, emerging contemporaneously with the university at large in 1892...
. In addition, Bro recruited faculty trained at the University of Chicago. These efforts ultimately bore fruit in the more radical transformation that occurred under Bro's successor, Aaron Brumbaugh
Aaron Brumbaugh
Aaron John Brumbaugh was a higher education administrator and professor of education, and the sixth president of Shimer College.Brumbaugh was born in Hartville, Ohio in early 1893...
.
Throughout Bro's tenure, Shimer was a women's junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
. It was known as "Frances Shimer Junior College" until 1942 and as "Frances Shimer College" thereafter.
Later life
In 1949 Bro left the presidency of Shimer and was appointed a Foreign Service Reserve officer. He was assigned to SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
as a cultural attaché on November 25, 1949. He was initially granted only a one-year leave of absence from his Shimer position, as the State Department appointment was tentative. However, Bro continued in this capacity until 1953. He was succeeded as president of Shimer by Aaron Brumbaugh
Aaron Brumbaugh
Aaron John Brumbaugh was a higher education administrator and professor of education, and the sixth president of Shimer College.Brumbaugh was born in Hartville, Ohio in early 1893...
of the University of Chicago.
After his diplomatic service was complete, Bro returned to the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. In 1956, Bro co-founded the Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship
Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship
Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship or SFF was founded by Arthur Ford in 1956. Their mission is to be "an interfaith, non-profit movement" of religious leaders, writers, and business and professional persons who feel a kinship with and have a concern for the growing Western interest in altered states of...
, a Spiritualist organization, together with Arthur Ford
Arthur Ford
Arthur Ford was an American psychic spiritual medium, clairaudient and in 1955 founded the Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship.- Biographical problems :...
and Paul Higgins
Paul Higgins
Paul Higgins is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 25 games in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs.-Personal life:...
. He died of a heart attack shortly thereafter, on March 6, 1956, while walking to church.
Albin Bro was the husband of Margueritte Harmon Bro, a prolific writer of children's and religious literature. Their son Harmon Bro later served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Shimer College.
See also
- History of Shimer CollegeHistory of Shimer CollegeThe history of Shimer College begins in 1853, and has involved a series of crises and profound changes. Because of this, the college is often symbolized by a phoenix which is reborn from its own ashes...