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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 24 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on committees, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 16
Scope and Contents

Contains membership lists, annual reports and correspondence between 1951 to 1956 from various committees at Brigham Young University.

Dates: 1951-1956

Office of the President records on committees, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 26
Scope and Contents

Contains a list of all committees on BYU campus as well as their activity status. Also contains letters and memos about committees. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on department chairmen, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 27
Scope and Contents

Contains memos between Preident Wilkinson and heads of BYU departments. Also contains a list of all BYU department chairmen. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962

Office of the President records on enrollment, 1949-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 20
Scope and Contents

Contains statistical information concerning enrollment of students at BYU and other universities, dated between 1949 to 1956. The information is organized into reports, lists, and visual charts.

Dates: 1949-1956

Office of the President records on enrollment, 1956-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 22
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: 1956-1958

Office of the President records on Freedoms Foundation, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 40
Scope and Contents

Contains memos from the Freedom Foundation discussing proceedings of their meetings as well as brochures and lists. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on Karl G. Maeser, 1952-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 35
Scope and Contents

Correspondence about a book written by Alma P. Burton about Karl G. Maeser. Also included are lists describing some of the work done by Maeser. The letters discuss the distribution of the books as well as the editing. Dated 1952 to 1955.

Dates: 1952-1955

Office of the President records on Physical Plant Department, 1948-1957

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 41
Scope and Contents

Contains reports, correspondence and letters about the physical campus of Brigham Young University, dated 1948 to 1957. The materials concern property acquistion, budgets and proposals for new buildings as well as modifications to existing buildings, and dedication of many buildings, notably many new student residence halls.

Dates: 1948-1957

Office of the President records on principals of public school, 1952

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 46
Scope and Contents

Lists of Utah teachers and principals and describing their levels of education. Also contains correspondence and memos concerning the amount of students graduating from Utah teaching programs. Dated 1952.

Dates: 1952

Office of the President records on Research Division, 1953-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 48
Scope and Contents

Lists of suggested research topics for different departments, like history, political science, sociology, psychology, English, sciences, and education. Dated 1953 to 1955.

Dates: 1953-1955