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 22 Collections and/or Records:

Howard Earl McBride papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9630
Scope and Contents Personal papers of Howard Earl McBride (1932-2021), mainly related to his service in the United States Army during the 1950s. Includes letters to and from Howard's wife Lois and other family members while Howard was at Fort Sill and Fort Bliss, military certificates, documents, identity cards, and photographs. Also includes materials related to Howard and Lois's time attending Brigham Young University, such as identity cards, clippings, photographs, a flier advertising Howard's run for the...
Dates: 1950-1964

Of one heart

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230329457]
Identifier: MSS SC 3017
Scope and Contents Personal history of Ray and Madge Watters. Contains recollections of Madge's childhood in Burrville, Utah; Ray's childhood in Richfield; their experiences during World War II in America, France, and Germany, including pictures and diagrams; family activities; associations with friends; and school, work, and church experiences in Orem, Utah, beginning in 1957. Ray worked at Brigham Young University as a professor in the Health Science Department in the College of Physical Education,...
Dates: 1998

Office of the President records on politics, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 61
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, articles and adresses. The topics include the Peace Corps as well as political issues at BYU. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Oral history interview with Howard Gonzales

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239115543]
Identifier: MSS 9288
Scope and Contents

Contains a compact disc labeled "2015-05-04 Howard Gonzales" which contains an MP3 oral history of his life. The oral history documents his education at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, his time in the U.S. military in Germany, his time working for the American government in public finance, and his home and family life in Long beach, California. Dated 2015.

Dates: 2015

Spencer J. Palmer interview

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 3000
Scope and Contents

Typescript of an interview taken from the included audiocassette. Palmer was interviewed on 30 July and 1 Aug. 1985 by Christopher B. Finuf for Hillam's War Project. Palmer talks about his experiences as a chaplain for the United States Army during the Korean War. Palmer was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dates: 1985

Ray C. Hillam photographs and scrapbooks, 1966-1996

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1643 Series 7
Scope and Contents

Photographs and scrapbooks collected by or given to Ray Cole Hillam while a faculty member at Brigham Young University. Dated from 1966 to 1996.

Dates: 1966-1996

Rex E. Lee addresses, 1982-1983

 Sub-Series — Box 161: Series 6 [Barcode: 31197230200641], Folder: 4-6
Identifier: MSS 2017 Series 6 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains copies of addresses given by Lee at education and church events. Materials date from between 1982 and 1983.

Dates: 1982-1983

Rex E. Lee inauguration files, 1989

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2017 Series 6 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains financial information, mailing lists, and labels related to Lee's inauguration as president of Brigham Young University. Materials date from 1989.

Dates: 1989

Lola Smoot papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197230217769]
Identifier: MSS 1749
Scope and Contents Handwritten note cards, photocopies of Lola Smoot's diaries, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, articles from magazines, correspondence, and partial drafts. The materials relate to Olson's research for his master's thesis in International Relations at Brigham Young University, entitled "The role of Brigham Young University in the Arab development society dairy project for Palestinian orphans". Smoot's diary was kept in 1963 when she was in Jericho working on the Arab Development Society...
Dates: 1952-1985

R. Phil Shumway autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230330141]
Identifier: MSS SC 3104
Scope and Contents Recalls his early life in Taylor, Arizona; service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 1942-1945, in Guadalcanal and elsewhere, including descriptions of ocean landing near New Hebrides in April 1944 and experiences prior to his rescue nine days later; education and professional activities; family life; community service, including on the Alpine School Board; and church service, especially in Orem, Utah. Includes details of his release as stake president in meetings presided over by Elder Theodore...
Dates: 1981