 His father, Howard, was a biology professor at Whitman College, where Brode he would earn his D.Sc in 1921.While studying for his Ph.D at University of Illinois under Roger Adams, he developed a lifelong interest in dyes and spectroscopy.He was on the faculty of Ohio State University (1928–48, professor 1939–48); head of the science department at US Naval Ordnance Test Station 1945–47; Science Adviser to the US Secretary of State 1958–60 and director of Barnes Engineering Co. in Washington from 1960 onwards.