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Brigham Young Academy

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1875 - 1903

Administrative History

Brigham Young Academy (1875-1903) was established by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the direction of Brigham Young for the instruction of church members in the area of Provo, Utah.

Brigham Young Academy was the predecessor to Brigham Young University and Brigham Young High School. Brigham Young saw the school as a place where all secular learning should be fused with teachings from the scriptures. Despite steady growth during its early years, the Academy was threatened by a series of financial and physical setbacks. With the help and sacrifice of Abraham O. Smoot, the campus moved in 1891 to new facilities on University Avenue in Provo Utah. The Academy's curriculum strengthened and enrollment grew. In 1903, the name was officially changed to Brigham Young University.

Brigham Young Academy principals included Warren N. Dusenberry (1876), Karl G. Maeser (1876-1892), and Benjamin Cluff (1892-1894). Benjamin Cluff also served as Academy president between 1894 and 1903.

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

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

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)

Provo City Library website, via WWW, Oct. 2, 2012 (Brigham Young Academy; founded in 1876; essentially a high school until 1896, with the founding of the College Dept.)

YFacts History of BYU, via WWW, viewed May 31, 2013 (Brigham Young Academy (1875-1903), Brigham Young saw the school as a place where all secular learning should be fused with teachings from the scriptures, despite steady growth during its early years, the Academy was threatened by a series of financial and physical setbacks, with the help and sacrifice of Abraham O. Smoot, the campus moved in 1891 to new facilities on University Avenue in Provo Utah, the Academy's curriculum strengthened and enrollment grew, 1903 the name was officially changed to Brigham Young University)

Yfacts BYU Presidents, via WWW, viewed Mar. 19, 2013 (Brigham Young Academy principals included Warren N. Dusenberry (1876), Karl G. Maeser (1876-1892), and Benjamin Cluff (1892-1903))

Brigham Young High School History, via WWW, viewed May 31, 2013 (Brigham Young Academy was the predecessor to Brigham Young University and Brigham Young High School)

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

History of Ole Van Harris and wife, Annie May Perry Harris

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230322866]
Identifier: MSS SC 2609
Scope and Contents

Typewritten biography of Ole Van Harris and Annie May Perry Harris, his wife. Ole was born in Parowan, Utah in 1876 and was raised on ranch near the town. Ole attended Brigham Young Academy, taught school in various places in Utah, and eventually settled in Salt Lake City, Utah to work as a businessman. His wife Annie May Perry Harris was born in Provo, Utah in 1876 and married Ole in 1901.

Dates: approximately 1980

James E. Talmage academic papers from Brigham Young Academy, 1884-1889

 Series
Identifier: MSS 229 Series 3
Scope and Contents note

Contains biology lectures and laboratory records from Talmage's time as a science educator at Brigham Young Academy. Dated approximately 1884 to 1889.

Dates: 1884-1889

James E. Talmage student materials, 1876-1893

 Series — Box 24b: Series 2; Series 14; Series 15 [Barcode: 31197227605695], Folder: 16
Identifier: MSS 229 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains Latin coursework, science notes, essays, and examinations from Talmage's time as a student at Brigham Young Academy, Lehigh University, and Johns Hopkins University. Also contains some literature from various schools Talmage did not attend. Dated approximately 1876 to 1893.

Dates: 1876-1893

Reinhard Maeser papers

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2115
Scope and Contents Contains a photo negative of Reinhard Maeser, mounted on a wood block for printing; an unidentified photograph, presumably of a school class in Heber City, Utah, taken on the front steps of a building; a photograph of the 20th Ward Institute in Salt Lake City, including Karl G. Maeser, Reinhard Maeser, C. R. Savage, and others; a guest book, accompanied by cards, from the funeral of Reinhard's wife, Sarah Shepherd Maeser; and class notes recorded by Reinhard Maeser at the University of...
Dates: 1878-1944

A. O. Smoot papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 896
Scope and Contents The A. O. Smoot papers comprise the accumulation of records over the period of fifty-seven years and include journals, diaries, financial records and correspondence dealing with business, personal, church, and Brigham Young Academy matters. The letters are holograph and typewritten, the journals are in both the original handwritten form and xerox copies.The missionary journals were written by A.O. Smoot for the years of 1837 to 1838 and 1844 to 1845 while he was serving in the...
Dates: 1837-1894

Mary Hale Woolsey papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2294
Abstract

Contains manuscripts, typescripts, correspondence (business and personal), scrapbooks, published and unpublished music, personal writings and literary works (poems, short stories, etc.) created and collected during Woolsey's career as a writer of adult and children's literature and as a composer of popular music.

Dates: 1910-1969