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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 78 Collections and/or Records:

Centennial History Project topical source files, 1864-1974

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 566 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains topical files, including biographical and historical sketches, articles of incorporation, periodicals, minutes, statistics, journal and diary extracts, minutes of meetings, published information, personal histories, biographical sketches, research notes, and some correspondence on a wide variety of topics. Materials date from between 1864 and 1974.

Dates: 1864-1974

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

Ross T. Christensen papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1716
Scope and Contents Reflects Ross T. Christensen's service as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil, service in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, career as a professor of archaeology at Brigham Young University, activities as a founding member of the Society for Early Historic Archaeology (SEHA), interest in Book of Mormon archaeology, participation in Leadership Week and Education Week on the BYU campus and elsewhere, and family activities. Includes...
Dates: 1939-1990

Harold Glen Clark papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 7959
Scope and Contents

Contains the personal papers of Clark, including his diaries, daily planners, scrapbooks, high school yearbooks, photographs, letters, sound recordings of his speeches, and transcripts of his diaries created by children. Dated approximately 1896 to 1985.

Dates: 1896-1985

Collection on George H. Brimhall, 1874-1932

 Series
Identifier: UA 1092 Series 22
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, diaries, speeches, and other materials produced or collected by Brimhall between 1874 and 1932. Includes information on the university and seminary program, as well as materials related to religious instruction.

Dates: 1874-1932

Richard H. Cracroft papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2587
Abstract

Collection contains the papers of Richard H. Cracroft, beginning in 1956, with Cracroft's mission, and ending in 2001. They include his personal correspondence, journals, published/unpublished articles, files, and church papers.

Dates: 1956-2006

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

Harrison Davis papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2023
Scope and Contents Professional papers documenting Davis' academic career at Brigham Young University. Diaries, research notes, photographs, reel-to-reel sound tapes, cassette tapes, maps, correspondence, and postcards. The collection relates to the teaching of humanities, geography, and anthropology. The items also deal with Harrison's studies in numerology; dowsing; "synchronicity"; "coincidence studies"; Mormon history and cities; Massachusetts; Cache Valley, Utah; Wales; and Rexburg, Idaho. The...
Dates: 1950-1996

Ernest L. Wilkinson diaries, 1952-1977

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents note

Contains diaries and schedules of Wilkinson, covering the period from 1952 to 1977.

Dates: 1952-1977

Freshman Academy journals

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231234771]
Identifier: UA 969
Scope and Contents

Contains journal entries made by incoming Freshmen participating in the Freshman Academy.

Dates: 1999