Herman C. Krannert
Encyclopedia
Herman C. Krannert was a businessman and philanthropist in the Midwest. He was married to Ellnora Decker Krannert. He was a successful entrepreneur who made millions in the corrugated fiber products industry and made generous contributions to education and the arts in the Midwest. Among other substantial contributions, 11 buildings bear the Krannert name, most of them at hospitals and universities in Illinois and Indiana. The prestigious Krannert School of Management at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...

 bears his name.

Early life

Born in 1887, Herman grew up on Chicago's west side. After graduating from Crane Technical High School, he spent two years saving enough money to attend the University of Illinois, Class of 1912, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. Working throughout his college career, he completely financed his education and sent extra money home to support his widowed mother.

Early career

After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...

, Krannert was hired in 1914 by Sefton Manufacturing Company, a Chicago-based firm that made paper boxes. At age 30, he was transferred to Anderson, Indiana, and became the youngest Sefton employee to be promoted to plant manager. During his years in Anderson, Krannert met and later married Ellnora Decker, an Indiana native and graduate of Brenau College.

Krannert's superior skill, motivation, and innovations at the Anderson plant were rewarded with the company's president offering him a position as a vice president and director. There was one restriction: Krannert would be required to vote as the president voted. Feeling that this directive was unprofessional and unethical, he left the company.

Inland Container Corporation

In 1925, Krannert started his own business, the Inland Container Corporation
Temple-Inland
Temple-Inland, Inc. is an American corrugated packaging and building products company based in Austin, Texas.-History:-Early Years:In 1893, when Thomas Louis Latane Temple, Sr., founded Southern Pine Lumber Company on of East Texas, Angelina County, timberland...

, in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

 with six employees, all of whom had also quit the company in Anderson.

Thanks to Krannert's hard work and shrewd business sense, the company expanded and survived the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...

. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, the United States government began buying large quantities of Inland's moisture-resistant "V-Board" boxes. By the early 1970s, Inland Container was America's second-largest manufacturer of corrugated shipping containers, with a complex of 25 plants grossing $200 million in annual sales.

Philanthropy

In addition to overseeing the company, Krannert was involved in several civic and other business interests. He received an honorary doctor of law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...

 from the University of Illinois in 1965, in addition to honorary degrees from Indiana, Butler, Purdue, Evansville, and DePauw Universities, and from Indiana Central College
University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis is a university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The shortened name it uses is UIndy...

. Mrs. Krannert received honorary degrees from Indiana Central College and from Evansville, Butler, and Indiana Universities.

Among other substantial contributions, 11 buildings bear the Krannert name, most of them at hospitals and universities in Illinois and Indiana. Mrs. Krannert's appreciation for the arts largely influenced the Krannerts' contributions to the University of Illinois. She was further involved in the design of this performing arts center. Commenting on this gift to the University, Mr. Krannert said: "We feel that it is a privilege to contribute to my Alma Mater to enlarge and to improve the cultural facilities for future students."

Krannert School of Management

In 1960, Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...

 began to develop the first relationships with Krannert. He was referred to Emanuel Weiler for advice regarding his Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

-based firm, Inland Container Corp., and later Krannert approved a management development program for his executives to be taught by Purdue faculty.

In 1962, Herman and Ellnora Krannert donated $2.73 million to Purdue University to establish The Krannert Graduate School of Industrial Administration, the university's first endowed
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....

 school. The money went to provide for a new building and trust fund.

Herman Krannert received an honorary Doctorate of Industrial Administration
Master of Science in Industrial Administration
The Master of Science in Industrial Administration historically has been a professional Master's degree that provides training in management and business administration....

 from President Hovde, president of Purdue, in 1962.

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

In 1964, Herman and Ellnora Krannert announced the plans for Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts was built in 1969 in Urbana, Illinois, USA, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an educational and performing arts complex. Herman C...

 at the University of Illinois in Urbana. The Center is a known world-wide for first class venues, including the Foellinger Great Hall, one of the most acoustically perfected performance spaces in the world, and it is also used as a laboratory space, housing classes, offices, and student productions for the University of Illinois Theatre Department, the School of Music, and the Dance Department.
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