biologist, college president, b. Lowell, Ind. He graduated from Wabash College (B.A., 1889; A.M., 1890) and the Univ. of Chicago (Ph.D., 1912). He was professor of biology at the Univ. of North Dakota (1894-1914), dean of the school of medicine (1905-1911), and dean of the college of liberal arts (1911-1914). He was president of the Univ. of Idaho (1914-1917). In 1917 he moved to Wisconsin as president of Beloit College. He served in this position until 1923, and successfully guided the college through the problems of World War I and the postwar readjustment. He was a founder and president (1919-1921) of Wisconsin Colleges Associated, an organization designed to raise funds to be prorated among state colleges in an attempt to promote Christian education. He also organized and was president of the Beloit Association of Commerce. In 1923 he left Beloit to serve as chancellor of the Univ. of Montana (1923-1933), and subsequently retired to Florida. He was the author of several articles on biological subjects and was a member of numerous professional and honorary organizations. Who's Who in Amer., 25 (1948); Beloit Daily News, Mar. 27, 1950; R. K. Richardson, "Hist. of Beloit College" [Unpub. MS in Beloit College Archives]; M. A. Brannon Papers, Beloit College Archives.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Melvin A. Brannon Historical Sketch for details.

View newspaper clippings at Wisconsin Local History and Biography Articles.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]