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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 307 Collections and/or Records:

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, 1953-1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 59
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos to and from President Wilkinson, addressing student life, events and services available at BYU. Dated 1953 to 1959.

Dates: 1953-1959

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 students, 1958-1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 29
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between BYU faculty discussing the circumstances of individual students. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1958-1959

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 Study Abroad, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 16
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos among BYU faculty about study abroad programs. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

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 Summer School, 1951-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 61
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memorandums and informational and promotional brochures concerning scheduling and details for BYU Summer School. Dated 1951 to 1955.

Dates: 1951-1955

Office of the President records on sympathy, 1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 74
Scope and Contents

Contains sympathetic letters and memos written by President Wilkinson. Dated 1962.

Dates: 1962

Office of the President records on telephones, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 74
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and telegrams discussing BYU phone service as well as a brochure advertising another type of phone. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963