Emanuel bronner biography

American soapmaker

Emanuel Theodore Bronner (born Emanuel Heilbronner,^[2] February 1, 1908 – March 7, 1997) was the founder of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps.^[3] He used product labels to promote his moral and religious ideas, including a belief in the goodness and unity of humanity.

History

Bronner was born in Heilbronn, Germany, to the Heilbronner family of soap makers.^[4] He emigrated to the United States in 1929, dropping "Heil" from his name due to its association with Nazism.^[5] He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1936.^[5] As his family was Jewish, he pleaded with his parents to emigrate with him for fear of the then-ascendant Nazi Party, but they refused.

His last contact with his parents was in the form of a censoredpostcard saying, "You were right. —Your loving father."^[6] His parents were murdered in the Holocaust.

• Bronner's 1936 naturalization certificate mak