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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 338 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on university relations, 1966-1968

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 19
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and members of various national, regional and state-wide academic councils and assemblies. Also includes reports of the associations' activity, as well as correspondence with leaders of other universities. Dated 1966-1968.

Dates: 1966-1968

Office of the President records on university relations, 1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 19
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and members of various national, regional and state-wide academic councils and assemblies. Also includes reports of the associations' activity, as well as correspondence with leaders of other universities. Dated 1965.

Dates: 1965

Office of the President records on university standards, 1958

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

Contains copies of a 1950 tentative statement of purpose for BYU as well as copies of letters and memorandums concerning standards of behavior at BYU. Materials dated 1958.

Dates: 1958

Office of the President records on university standards, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 15
Scope and Contents

Contains a single memo from President Wilkinson to Clyde D. Sandgren about BYU standards. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on visitors, 1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 81
Scope and Contents

Contains news clippings and memos to and from President Wilkinson about visitors to BYU. Dated 1962.

Dates: 1962

Office of the President records on visitors, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 79
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and BYU staff discussing visitors to BYU. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on Vontella Kimball, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 50
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson about articles. Also contains articles and clippings about Vontella Kimball. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on William P. Knecht, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 51
Scope and Contents

Contains various memos and letters, many of them between President Wilkinson and William P. Knecht. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on World's Fair, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 41
Scope and Contents

Contains printed materials about the Hall of Free Enterprise at the Worlds Fair, including memos, reports and brochures. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President speeches, 1951-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 51
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and memos concerning speaking engagements of President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty as well as radio presentations between 1945 to 1956. Date of record keeping 1951 to 1955.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1951-1955