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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 172 Collections and/or Records:

Elisha Jones papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2870
Scope and Contents Includes diary, notebook, and lecture report. Diary begins with ten-page reminiscence, 1858. Sporadic diary entries are dated 1858-1879. Notes, some dating as late as 1885 (after Elisha's death), interspersed throughout volume. Volume also includes two pages of minutes to a high priest's quorum meeting, 23 October 1860, presumably held in Sanpete County; and several pages listing family names. Notebook, without covers, contains financial entries dated about 1872-1880. Last item is a...
Dates: 1858-1880

Joseph W. Booth diaries and poems, 1885-1928

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 155 Series 3
Scope and Contents From the Collection:

Handwritten diaries and poems. These journals were kept from 1885 to 1928 when Booth was in Alpine, Utah, at the Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah, and in Turkey and Armenia as a missionary and as mission president.

Dates: 1885-1928

Joseph W. Booth poetry, 1885-1921

 Series — Box 3: Series 1; Series 2 [Barcode: 31197230364678]
Identifier: MSS 155 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains poetry produced by Booth, dated from between 1885 and 1921.

Dates: 1885-1921

Joseph B. Keeler family papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2016
Scope and Contents

Includes journals, biographical sketches, correspondence, articles, lesson manuals, published and unpublished manuscripts, photographs, and ephemera. The bulk of the material was created by Joseph B. Keeler's descendants, who used his papers as they compiled their published family history, "Build Thee More Stately" (1989). The collection focuses on family history, religion, education, and professional organizations.

Dates: approximately 1840-1990

Francis W. Kirkham diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 772
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries. Kirkham describes his early life before starting his diaries in 1893. In the first volume, Kirkham writes about his education. The volumes numbered 2 through 13 were kept when he was serving on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand. These items contain accounts of his daily activities and extensive comments on the customs of the Maori people of New Zealand. The fourteenth volume tells about the completion of Kirkham's schooling and...
Dates: 1893-1902

Francis W. Kirkham letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230322932]
Identifier: MSS SC 2376
Scope and Contents

Handwritten letter, on "Provo City, Utah" stationary, which is dated 10 Oct. 1900 and addressed to "Dearest Zina." The item was signed by "Francis" who is believed to have been Francis W. Kirkham. Francis writes to his "sweetheart" telling her of his activities at Brigham Young Academyin Provo, Utah.

Dates: 1900 October 10

Laboratory School annuals, 1933-1968

 Series
Identifier: UA 564 Series 17
Scope and Contents note

Contains issues of the Wildcat (Y'ld Cat), the school yearbook of Brigham Young High School. Dates range from 1933-1968.

Dates: 1933-1968

Laboratory School associations and organizations records, 1953-1968

 Series — Box 3: Series 4; Series 5; Series 6 [Barcode: 31197235223895], Folder: 2-5
Identifier: UA 564 Series 5
Scope and Contents note

Contains minutes and files on the National Association of Student Councils, National Honor Society for Junior and Senior High Schools, and Parent-Teacher Association: correspondence, program outlines, conference information, meeting minutes, constitutions, handbooks, annual reports, membership lists, certificates, and cards, emblems, clippings, policy and procedure information, GPA summaries, and other materials. Dates range from 1953-1968.

Dates: 1953-1968

Laboratory School Brigham Young High scrapbooks, 1934-1964

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 564 Series 21
Scope and Content note

BY High scrapbooks containing clippings, histories, and other material. Dates range from 1934-1964.

Dates: 1934-1964

Laboratory School certificates, 1941-1968

 Series — Box 11a: Series 15; Series 16 [Barcode: 31197233246013]
Identifier: UA 564 Series 15
Scope and Contents note

Contains certificates of accreditation, Honor societies for junior organizations, thespian organizations, and resolution of praise for the Operation Follow-up program to the Utah Teenage Traffic program. Dates range from 1941-1968.

Dates: 1941-1968