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 16 Collections and/or Records:

Biography of J. Edward Johnson

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2213
Scope and Contents

Typewritten biography of J. Edward Johnson with handwritten corrections. Johnson, a Mormon, was born in Murray, Utah, studied at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and worked for many years in California as a lawyer. He wrote a number of books on Mormon Church history and on constitutional law in the United States.

Dates: 1960

Biography of Jean Elizabeth Fossum May

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2083
Scope and Contents Compiled by James A. May about his mother, Jean Fossum May, drawing heavily on her letters, journals, and notes. Gives detailed information about her life in Baker, Oregon, 1906-1959; service as a missionary in the California Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1927-1928; marriage to Andrew May, 1930; family life (as a widow after 1933); service as head resident of Stover Hall (men's housing) on the campus of Brigham Young University, 1959-1969; and efforts to...
Dates: 1990-1998

Cornell Taylor Christensen diary

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197230309459]
Identifier: MSS SC 1173
Scope and Contents

Handwritten diary begun as an autobiography covering the years 1910-1931 and continuing as a diary from 1931 to 1936. It ends with a record of his struggle with tuberculosis which ended his life in 1936 at the age of 26. A letter to Christensen from his mother fills pages 167-176. It was written the morning of his death and describes various memories she had of him.

Dates: 1932-1936

Foreword to a life story

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230316199]
Identifier: MSS SC 1819
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten autobiography of John L. Seymour who taught at Sacramento Junior College for 24 years, produced and directed many plays, composed operas and chamber music. He later moved to Cedar City, Utah after the death of his mother and established a memorial library for her at Southern Utah State College. He discusses the operas he wrote and describes his philosophy of life.

Dates: 1980

Gary P. Gillum correspondence, 1973-2015

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2163 Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums, notes, and letters from Brigham Young University (BYU) faculty, as well as non-BYU correspondence with family, professional colleagues, editors, and Church authorities. The series dates from 1973 to 2015.

Dates: 1973-2015

O. Norman Geertsen papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 4245
Abstract

Collection includes research notes, papers and 6 negatives from Oscar Norman Geertsen’s years as a student at Brigham Young University and UCLA and then as a professor at Brigham Young University.

Dates: circa 1939-1978

Gary P. Gillum papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2163
Scope and Contents Collection consists of professional papers and personal writings of Gillum. Contains office files, correspondence, concert programs, research materials on Hugh Nibley, publications, and personal journals. Included with these are assessments on both Gillum and the History/Religion Department of the Harold B. Lee Library, Gillum's unpublished writings, correspondece and articles written by Hugh Nibley, Gillum's book "Of All Things," school papers and journals from Gillum describing his life...
Dates: 1926-2016

George H. Hansen photograph collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1628
Abstract

This is primarily a collection of original Hansen prints, slides, and negatives and also includes photographic albums belonging to George Hansen, Afton Allred Hansen, and Bessie Hansen.

Dates: approximately 1896-1980

Edwin Kimball interview with Rod Kimball

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2965
Scope and Contents

Typescript of an interview taken from the included reel-to-reel sound tape. Rod Kimball was interviewed by Edwin Kimball, his older brother. Rod talks about his early life, mentions his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints to Germany in the early 1930s, and discusses his experiences as a student at Brigham Young University in 1933.

Dates: 1979

A. Rex Johnson photographs

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: UA P 9
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs taken or collected by Johnson, including images of Brigham Young University and tourist destinations in Utah and California. Materials date from approximately 1920 to 1940.

Dates: approximately 1920-1940