Robert S. Brookings
Encyclopedia
Robert Somers Brookings (born January 22, 1850, Cecil County, Maryland
, died November 15, 1932, Washington, D.C.
) was an American businessman and philanthropist, known for his involvement with Washington University in St. Louis
and his founding of the Brookings Institution
.
to join his brother Harry as an employee of Cupples & Marston
, wholesale dealers in household goods. By 1872, Robert and Harry Brookings had become partners in the firm, and it prospered under their management.
In 1895, Brookings, now financially secure, decided to leave the day-to-day management of the company and focus on charitable and philanthropic endeavors. He became chairman of the board of trustees of Washington University, remaining on the board for the rest of his life and donating over $5 million to the school in cash and property. The university's administration building, Brookings Hall
, is named for him.
In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson
appointed Brookings to the War Industries Board
, and later named him chairman of its Price Fixing Committee. In this role, he was the liaison between the U.S. government and many different industries. Brookings was awarded the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal
, the French Legion of Honor, and the Order of the Crown of Italy
for his wartime work.
In 1916, Brookings established the Institute for Government Research, an independent organization dedicated to political study. He later founded an Institute of Economics and a graduate school of public policy. In 1927, these three entities were merged into the Brookings Institution
, which remains one of the leading think tank
s in the United States.
Brookings wrote three books: Industrial Ownership (1925), Economic Democracy (1929), and The Way Forward (1932). He died in 1932 in Washington, D.C. and is buried in St. Louis.
Cecil County, Maryland
Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is part of the Delaware Valley. It was named for Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , who was the first Proprietary Governor of the colony of Maryland from 1632 until his death in 1675. The county seat is Elkton. The newspaper...
, died November 15, 1932, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) was an American businessman and philanthropist, known for his involvement with Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
and his founding of the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
.
Biography
Brookings grew up on the Little Elk Creek in Cecil County, near Baltimore, Maryland. At age 17, he moved to St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
to join his brother Harry as an employee of Cupples & Marston
Samuel Cupples
Samuel Cupples was a St. Louis, Missouri woodenware merchant and business partner of Robert S. Brookings. With the Brookings Brothers, Cupples enlarged his company to enormous proportions. He also built "Cupples Station" in downtown St...
, wholesale dealers in household goods. By 1872, Robert and Harry Brookings had become partners in the firm, and it prospered under their management.
In 1895, Brookings, now financially secure, decided to leave the day-to-day management of the company and focus on charitable and philanthropic endeavors. He became chairman of the board of trustees of Washington University, remaining on the board for the rest of his life and donating over $5 million to the school in cash and property. The university's administration building, Brookings Hall
Brookings Hall
Brookings Hall is a Collegiate Gothic landmark on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. The building, first named "University Hall", was built between 1900 and 1902 and served as the administrative center for the 1904 World's Fair...
, is named for him.
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
appointed Brookings to the War Industries Board
War Industries Board
The War Industries Board was a United States government agency established on July 28, 1917, during World War I, to coordinate the purchase of war supplies. The organization encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques to increase efficiency and urged them to eliminate waste by...
, and later named him chairman of its Price Fixing Committee. In this role, he was the liaison between the U.S. government and many different industries. Brookings was awarded the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, the French Legion of Honor, and the Order of the Crown of Italy
Order of the Crown of Italy
The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
for his wartime work.
In 1916, Brookings established the Institute for Government Research, an independent organization dedicated to political study. He later founded an Institute of Economics and a graduate school of public policy. In 1927, these three entities were merged into the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
, which remains one of the leading think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
s in the United States.
Brookings wrote three books: Industrial Ownership (1925), Economic Democracy (1929), and The Way Forward (1932). He died in 1932 in Washington, D.C. and is buried in St. Louis.