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 8 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

Encyclopedia of Mormonism Project records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1198
Scope and Contents

Contains meeting minutes, correspondence, and topical outlines related to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism project.

Dates: 1987-1990
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Encyclopedia of Mormonism Project records

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1963-1965

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

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, Church general authorities, and BYU faculty on the topics of Church schools, proposed Church schools, and curriculum within these schools. Dated 1963-1965.

Dates: 1963-1965
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports about parts of the Church School System, including colleges, seminaries, and institutes. Dated 1964.

Dates: 1964
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, Church general authorities, and BYU faculty on the topics of Church schools, proposed Church schools, and curriculum within these schools. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Reed Smoot correspondence, 1891-1941

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1187 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains Reed Smoot's personal and professional correspondence, both outgoing and incoming. Includes letters to government employees and departments, Brigham Young University, and others. Also contains letters to and from Susa Young Gates, Merrill Nibley, and several others. Includes some correspondence to U.S. Presidents, such as Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. Dated 1891-1941.

Dates: 1891-1941
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 1187, Reed Smoot papers

W. Cleon Skousen papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 9364
Scope and Contents Contains personal papers of W. Cleon Skousen, including diaries and scrapbooks. Also contains professional papers of W. Cleon Skousen, reflecting his varied careers in law enforcement, authorship, research, lecturing, education, and scholarship. Topics include communism, the United States Constitution and government history, government officials, world politics, the Book of Mormon, and police administration.Contains materials on various institutions Skousen affiliated with,...
Dates: 1911-2006
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / W. Cleon Skousen papers

Brad and Dee Winterton correspondence

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232482973]
Identifier: MSS 1747
Scope and Contents

Handwritten correspondence, newspaper clippings, playbills, and research papers written while Winterton was in college. The correspondence is between Winterton and his son Brad while Brad was serving on a mission for the Mormon Church in Spain during the early 1980s. The other materials relate to family matters.

Dates: 1951-1984
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Brad and Dee Winterton correspondence

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.