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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 10 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on academic, 1963-1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters and reports on a vast array of BYU academic topics, including student life and activities, BYU faculty and staff, and academic colleges and majors. Dated 1963-1965.

Dates: 1963-1965

Office of the President records on academics, 1959-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters and reports on various BYU academics topics such as major programs and curriculums. Other topics include student and staff activities. Dated 1959 to 1964.

Dates: 1959-1964

Office of the President records on academics, 1965-1968

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters, articles and reports on a vast array of BYU academic topics, including student life and activities, BYU faculty and staff, and academic colleges and majors. Dated 1965-1969.

Dates: 1965-1968

Office of the President records on books, 1960-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others discussing books and recommended reading. Dated 1960 to 1962.

Dates: 1960-1962

Office of the President records on colleges and departments, 1963-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports and other materials regarding the operations and curriculum for various BYU colleges. These were sent between President Wilkinson and staff of various departments. Dated 1963 to 1964.

Dates: 1963-1964

Office of the President records on colleges and departments, 1958-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 20
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and other materials regarding the coordination of curriculum for various BYU colleges. These were sent between President Wilkinson and heads of various departments. Dated 1958 to 1962.

Dates: 1958-1962

Office of the President records on colleges and departments, 1956-1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and heads of BYU departments discussing academic colleges as well as the programs and curriculum offered in these colleges. Contains memos and letters about athletics and other BYU programs. Also contains other materials such as news clippings and reports. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1956-1959

Office of the President records on curriculum, 1954-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 17
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including the Church School System, federal aid, finance, enrollment statistics, and general correspondence between administration. Dates of record keeping from 1937 to 1960.

Dates: 1954-1958

Office of the President records on curriculum, 1960-1961

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 26
Scope and Contents

Contains memos discussing BYU curriculum as well as a schedule of all available BYU courses. Dated 1960 to 1961.

Dates: 1960-1961

Office of the President records on curriculum, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 15
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and BYU faculty coordinating curriculum for the university. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959