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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 139 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on state institutions, 1961-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 70
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters, reports and news clippings about the need for school facilities. Dated 1961 to 1962.

Dates: 1961-1962

Office of the President records on students, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 72
Scope and Contents

Contains reports, letters and memos. The topics included student life and societies, trends of student behavior, and individual student problems. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on students, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 56
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums, correspondence, reports and other publications, dated between 1951 and 1956. The materials regard personal problems of individual students such as mission deferments, mortality and counseling. Also contains recruitment materials for high schools and colleges.

Dates: 1951-1956

Office of the President records on studies, 1957-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 73
Scope and Contents

Contains memos from President Wilkinson as well as statistical reports on church membership and the US Utah census. Dated 1957 to 1962.

Dates: 1957-1962

Office of the President records on Summer School, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 73
Scope and Contents

Contains faculty memos arranging BYU summer school for students as well as a report on the demographics of BYU summer school students. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on television and radio, 1962-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 75
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memorandums between President Wilkinson, BYU staff, Arch Madsen, and radio executives on the subject of new radio programs and daily operations of the KSL radio station. Dated 1962 to 1964.

Dates: 1962-1964

Office of the President records on television and radio, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 64
Scope and Contents

Consists of reports, correspondence and memos concerning the television industry. Mainly dealing with the Utah Educational Television Foundation and studies on the effects of televison on education.

Dates: 1951-1956

Office of the President records on travel, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 76
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos discussing BYU faculty and students' study abroad finances. Also contains a lengthy travel reimbursement report. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on universities, 1939-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 66
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memorandums, reports and assorted other materials concerning universities. Contains materials which compare and contrast programs and enrollment of the University of Utah, Utah State Agricultural College, and BYU. Also includes reports from the Utah legislative Council which describe higher education in Utah. Dated 1939 to 1956.

Dates: 1939-1956

Office of the President records on universities, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 34
Scope and Contents

Contains reports, memos and letters pertaining to BYU's relationship with other universities, especially the University of Utah. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959