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Brigham Young University. Office of the President

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1903-

Administrative History

The Office of the President (est. 1903) is the central administrative body at Brigham Young University, and is the direction of the university president.

Brigham Young University has had a president since Brigham Young Academy was changed to Brigham Young University in 1903. While the school was still called Brigham Young Academy the head officer was titled principal.

The Board of Trustees delegates to the university president the responsibility to conduct the operations of the institution and administer the policies enacted by the board. Since 1996, the president of the university has also been a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Past and present Brigham Young University presidents include George H. Brimhall (1903-1921), Franklin S. Harris (1921-1945), Howard S. McDonald (1945-1949), (acting president) Christian Jensen (1949-1951), Ernest L. Wilkinson (1951-1971), Dallin H. Oaks (1971-1980), Jeffrey R. Holland (1980-1989), Rex E. Lee (1989-1995), Merrill J. Bateman (1996-2003), Cecil O. Samuelson (2003-2014), Kevin J. Worthen (2014-2023), and C. Shane Reese (2023- ).

Citation:
Office of the President essays, circa 1985-1986

Brigham Young University, L. Tom Perry Special Collections worksheet, Feb. 4, 2010 (Office of the President; administrative office associated with the president of Brigham Young University)

Brigham Young University Web site, Feb. 4, 2010 (Office of the President; President's Office)

BYU Organizational History, Brigham Young University, Feb. 19, 2013 (BYU chief executive/general manager; University President 1903; BYA to BYU; Board of Trustees delegate responsibilities to University President; 1996 General Authority; past/present presidents George H. Brimhall (1903-1921), Franklin S. Harris (1921-1945), Howard S. McDonald (1945-1949), (acting president) Christian Jensen (1949-1951), Ernest L. Wilkinson (1951-1971), Dallin H. Oaks (1971-1980), Jeffrey R. Holland (1980-1989), Rex E. Lee (1989-1995), Merrill J. Bateman (1996-2003), and Cecil O. Samuelson (2003- ))

Found in 325 Collections and/or Records:

L. Lee Bartlett collection of Office of the President records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5601
Scope and Contents Contains the e-mails written to and the responses from the Brigham Young University President's Page. Started in 2000, the President's Page was an opportunity for students, community members, and alumni to have more direct contact with the President of Brigham Young University. The materials include e-mails from Presidents Merrill J. Bateman (President from 1996-2003) and Cecil O. Samuelson (President from 2003-). The e-mails include a wide range of subjects including thank you...
Dates: 2000-2006
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / L. Lee Bartlett collection of Office of the President records

Ernest L. Wilkinson biographical sketches, 1954-1978

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 2 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains biographical sketches on prominent leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Materials date from between 1954 and 1978.

Dates: 1954-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Office of the President records

Ernest L. Wilkinson correspondence from Washington, D.C., 1949-1952

 Sub-Series — Box 288: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197230190644], Folder: 4-6
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 2 Sub-Series 13
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence by Wilkinson from Washington, D.C. Dated 1949-1952.

Dates: 1949-1952
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Office of the President records

Ernest L. Wilkinson correspondence on Brigham Young University, 1976-1977

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 2 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence by Wilkinson on Brigham Young University. Materials date from between 1976 and 1977.

Dates: 1976-1977
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Office of the President records

Ernest L. Wilkinson miscellaneous material to be filed, 1950-1975

 Sub-Series — Box 288: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197230190644], Folder: 1-3
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 2 Sub-Series 12
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, speeches, and pamphlets related to Wilkinson that were not filed elsewhere in the collection. Dated 1950-1975.

Dates: 1950-1975
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Office of the President records

Ernest L. Wilkinson post-presidential papers, 1973-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 2 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, travel documentation, and other materials from after Wilkinson's presidential term. Materials date from between 1973 and 1978.

Dates: 1973-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Office of the President records

Office of the President administrative records on the J. Reuben Clark Law School, 1970-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 2 Sub-Series 6 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains administrative records related to the development and establishment of the Clark Law School. Materials date from between 1970 and 1978.

Dates: 1970-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Office of the President records / Office of the President records on the J. Reuben Clark Law School

Office of the President annual reports, 1951-1953

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

University reports divided by departments with departmental needs and statistics of students in specific programs. Submitted job applications also included. Dated 1951 to 1953.

Dates: 1951-1953
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President charts, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 19
Scope and Contents

Contians memos and reports about church school enrollment and dropouts. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President collection of university publications, 1939-1969

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 2 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains bound volumes of university publications, including related to the university bulletin. Materials date from between 1939 and 1969.

Dates: 1939-1969
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Office of the President records

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