Skip to main content

Brigham Young University

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1903-

Administrative History

Brigham Young University (1903- ) is a university sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Provo, Utah.

Brigham Young University was established in 1903 in a renaming of Brigham Young Academy. 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- ).

Brigham Young University is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of the Church Educational System (CES). The university is governed by a Board of Trustees, which, since 1939, has consisted of the First Presidency of the Church as well as other General Authorities or general officers of the Church appointed by the First Presidency. The Board of Trustees provides general direction and oversees the formulation of broad policies as well as the approval of all executive leadership and faculty appointments at the university. 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. The President serves as the chief executive officer and general manager of the University. Between 1996 and 2014, the President of the university was also been a General Authority of the Church.

Brigham Young University has grown from a small academy to one of the world's largest private universities. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU offers a unique educational environment that promotes learning by study and also by faith.

Citation:
Its Annual catalog, 1907/08.

BYU--national champions, 1985: intro. (Brigham Young University)

The Journal of pedagogy, Feb. 1895: t.p. (Brigham Young Academy)

History of BYU (within Brigham Young University website), via WWW, 4 November 2010 (Brigham Young Academy established October 16, 1875 in Provo, Utah. Name changed to Brigham Young University in 1903. Sponsored by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, associated with BYU-Hawaii in Laie, Hawaii; BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho; and LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah)

Brigham Young University Organizational History website, via WWW, Mar. 2, 2011 (Brigham Young University; est. 1903; name change from Brigham Young Academy; 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), Cecil O. Samuelson (2003-2014), and Kevin J. Worthen (2014- ); owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; governed by a board of trustees)

Brigham Young University website, via WWW, June 22, 2023 (C. Shane Reese; appointed president of Brigham Young University, May 1, 2023)

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Samuel Frederick Curtis papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9035
Scope and Contents Materials include journals, letters, notebooks, photographs, negatives, and audiocassettes of Samuel Frederick "Fred" Curtis and his wife Emmeline Curtis. Topics of materials include Fred's mission in Germany and the mission Samuel and Emmeline later served in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, both for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, their family of six children, and Fred's work at and donations to Brigham Young University. Some photographs depict military camps and activities aboard...
Dates: approximately 1930-2017
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Samuel Frederick Curtis papers

Vernon W. Larsen photographs

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7591
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs taken by Vernon W. Larsen while he served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii from 1940 to 1941. The photographs are in a variety of sizes and are mostly of the people in the area, but some are of the other missionaries serving. Also included are photographs taken of the Brigham Young University campus in the early 1940s and pictures of Japan during the United States occupation after World War II.

Dates: approximately 1940s
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vernon W. Larsen photographs

Lucele K. Christiansen papers, 1949-2008

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 4116 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains materials created by Lucele K. Christiansen regarding her life as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1951 and regarding family life in later years. Includes journals, photographs, a life story, and a scrapbook. Materials primarily deal with the details of daily life, church subjects, interaction with family, and interaction with friends and acquaintances.

Dates: 1949-2008
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 4116, John R. Christiansen family papers

George Finlay Macdonald photograph

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239266247]
Identifier: MSS 9365
Scope and Contents

Contains a postcard photograph with the note, "Representatives of the B.Y.U. laboring in the British Mission at Elders Convention in London Sept. (9 -11)- 13 held at Deseret." George Finlay Macdonald (who is pictured second from the right, back row) served in the London Conference from 1913 to 1915. Materials dated approximately 1913.

Dates: approximately 1913
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / George Finlay Macdonald photograph

Ed Rowe papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 831
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries, photograph albums, newspaper articles, mementos, programs, essays, and a doctoral dissertation. The diaries were kept by Rowe when he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wales from 1903 to 1906. Many of the materials relate to the Cambrain Association of Utah and performances of William Shakespeare's plays. Also included is a draft in three volumes of Rowe's doctoral dissertation from the University College of Cardiff, Wales,...
Dates: 1903-1947
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Ed Rowe papers

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.