William Cowper Brann - Definition and Overview

William Cowper Brann (1855-1898) was an American journalist. Brann was born in Illinois and died in Waco, Texas.

Brann was a highly opinionated, colorful writer. At the time of his death, Brann edited the Iconoclast in Waco, Texas.

He was also noted for his virulently racist views, writing approvingly of horrific murders of black citizens.

One of his targets was Baylor University, a prominent Baptist institution in Waco. Brann revealed that Baylor officials had been importing South American children recruited by missionaries and making house-servants out of them. Brann was shot in the back by Tom Davis, a Baylor supporter. Brann wheeled, drew his pistol, and killed Davis. Brann was helped home by his friends, and died there of his wounds.

See also

• Charles Carver. Brann the Iconoclast (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1957).
• The Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast... (New York: The Brann Publishers, Inc., 1919).

• Frank Luther Mott. A history of American magazines, 1741-1930 (Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press c1958-1968). Page 442+ [Note: This book is available online from the History E-Book Project]

External links

• "William Cowper Brann" in the Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/BB/fbr23.html)
• "The Iconoclast's Icon" by Dave Shiflett, October 1, 2004 (http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110005700)
• Works by Brann (http://www.gutenberg.org/author/William_Cowper_Brann) from Project Gutenberg