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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:

Office of the President correspondence with Admissions and Records Office, 2001-2003

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1073 Series 2 Sub-Series 8 Sub-Series 12
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence with Admissions and Records regarding enrollment and student financial aid. Materials date from between 2001 and 2003.

Dates: 2001-2003

Office of the President general records, 1964-1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents

Letters and memos to President Wilkinson inviting him to attend and speak at events, as well as his responses. Also contains letters of congratulations and travel information. Dated 1964-1965.

Dates: 1964-1965

Office of the President general records, 1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 12
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos on general topics such as personal correspondence of President Wilkinson and the Utah School Commission. dated 1964.

Dates: 1964

Office of the President general records, 1966-1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents

Letters and memos to President Wilkinson inviting him to attend and speak at events. as well as his responses. Also contains letters of congratulations and travel information. Dated 1966-1967.

Dates: 1966-1967

Office of the President general records, 1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents

Memos and letters to and from President Wilkinson discussing miscellaneous personal and professional matters such as condolences, congratulations, pollitics, and inviations to speaking engagements. Dated 1967.

Dates: 1967

Office of the President inter-office memos, 1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 13
Scope and Contents

Contains a list of BYU administrative staff as well as a collection of memorandums from President Wilkinson on a variety of BYU policies and individual circumstances. Includes a variety of topics from vacations to news articles. Dated 1965.

Dates: 1965

Office of the President invitations, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 25
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including staff, faculty, students, finance, and higher education in Utah and the United States. Dates of record keeping from 1949 to 1956.

Dates: 1951-1956

Office of the President invitations, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 48
Scope and Contents

Contians letters and memos from members of the community inviting President Wilkinson to various events. Also contains his responses either accepting or rejecting invitations. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President invitations, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 31
Scope and Contents

Contains invitations inviting President Wilkinson to various events, as well as his memos and letters accepting or rejecting the invitations. Dated 1957 to 1958.

Dates: 1957-1958

Office of the President invitations, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 22
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos inviting President Wilkinson to attend or speak at various events. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959