Dudley Brainard

Dudley Brainard

Architect's rendering of Brainard Hall, 1935-1939

Two women enjoy the Brainard Hall fireplace, 1943

Brainard Hall, 1940-1959

Selke Field with Veteran's Housing (bottom right) and Brainard Hall (top left), 1946

Biography

Dudley Brainard was born October 15, 1884, in Stacyville, IA. He received his bachelor's degree from Carlton College in Northfield, MN, in 1906, and his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1912. He then served as superintendent of schools in the towns of Slayton, Redwood Falls, and Fairmont, all located in Minnesota. Brainard married his wife, Merl, on June 22, 1920, and had five children together. Brainard joined the faculty at St. Cloud State in 1926, teaching history and school administration.

He was acting president of the university while George Selke served in World War II, from 1943 to 1947, continuing after Selke left in 1946. Brainard retired in 1953 after serving 28 years at St. Cloud State. He and wife Merl died of carbon monoxide poisoning on January 6, 1960 at their home at 716 4th Avenue South. Both are buried in St. Cloud's North Star Cemetery.

Brainard Hall (1946)

On property donated by Alvah Eastman in 1939, Brainard Hall opened in 1942 and was used by the National Youth Administration in cooperation with St. Cloud State during World War II. After the war ended, the building was then used by the St. Cloud Veteran's Hospital in 1945. In late 1946, the building was remodeled as a dormitory. In 1947, the building was named in honor of Dudley Brainard, serving as a men's dormitory until 1958. Located on the northwest corner of Michigan Ave SE and 10th Avenue SE, just west of Selke Field, Brainard Hall was razed in December 1960.

For more information, see the individual profiles for Brainard Hall on the University Archives’ website.