(Matthew) Heywood (Campbell) Broun, American journalist, author, and critic, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Heywood at 7 years of age wore a kilt suit that his Mother preferred with the skirt reaching nearly to his ankles. His Mother was very independent for a woman at this time and this was her idea of an appropiate outfit for a boy of 7 years. Broun's biographer also stated that Heywood's hair lent inself so well to curls that his mother wouldn't allow him to have it cut until he was 10 years old. He was teased and given a nickname at school in reconnition of his long curly hair. He was, however, protected by an older brother. It's interesting that his Mother wasn't the over protective mother stereotyped in discussions of Little Lord Fauntleroy.

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Broun was educated at Harvard University (1906-10) and afterwards was a reporter in New York City on the Morning Telegraph (1908-09, 1909-12) and on the Tribune (1912-21). In World War I he served as a correspondent in France with the American Expeditionary Force (AEP). In 1921 Broun began a daily column, "It Seems to Me" in the New York World. His connection with the paper was terminated in 1928 because of his support for Sacco and Venzetti. (Two Italian anarchists tried for murder with minimal evidence and eventually executed.) Broun's colunn was then sindicated by the Scripps-Howard chain of newspapooers. Broun was also a drama critic for Vanity Fair. He contributed to many magazines and lectured on drama at Colombia University (1920) and at the Rand School of Social Science (1921).

Broun was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1030 on the Socialist Party ticket. He founded the American Newspaper Guild in 1933 which was a union of newspapermebm which eventually affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1937. e was the Guild's president until his death in 1939.

His books include an account of his experiences with the ARP in France, dramatic criticisms, novels, and an analysis of anti-semitism.

Last updated: January 19, 1999