Roger D. Branigin Chair In History

The Branigin Chair in History was established in memory of Roger D. Branigin (1902 to 1975), the 42nd Governor of the State of Indiana and an avid student of history. Roger Douglas Branigin was the third of four sons of Elba and Zula Branigin. Elba Branigin was the son of a pioneer Johnson County family and was a graduate of Franklin College. All the Branigin boys followed in their father's footsteps, each becoming attorneys, each graduating from Franklin College and each was an active member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Roger gave personal wealth, time and collections, and he influenced many others to do the same. His strongest Franklin interests were the History Department and the library, as he was well versed in the history of Indiana and the Northwest Territory. At his death, his family and friends began the program to endow this chair in History, as a lasting tribute to him as researcher and Hoosier historian. Many people have contributed to and served Franklin College. Roger Branigin was outstanding among them. He was a member of the Franklin College Board of Trustees at the time of his death.