Dates

• Existence: 1869 - 1947

Biographical History

Wm. J. Snow (1869-1947) was a historian in Utah.

William James Snow was born on April 16, 1869 in Lehi, Utah to William Snow and Sally Adams. Raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pine Valley, Utah, he attended Brigham Young Academy between 1892 and 1893. He then returned to Pine Valley to teach school. In May 1899 he married Hattie Thornton in the St. George Temple, and they eventually had five children.

In 1899 Snow was called to serve a mission in New York. On his return to Utah in 1901, he decided to continue his studies at Brigham Young University. In the course of his studies he served as principal of the Uinta Stake Academy from 1906 to 1908. He completed his bachelor's degree in 1919 and then continued studying at the University of Utah and the University of Chicago. In 1922 he received his master's degree from the University of California, and earned his Ph.D. in 1923.

Snow joined the faculty of Brigham Young University in 1917, and remained for thirty-eight years. During this time he served as chair of the Library Committee, coach of the debate team, and chair of the Department of History. He also was on the Board of Control of the Utah State Historical Department for twenty years, and was president of the Board between 1931 and 1938.

William J. Snow passed away on October 14, 1947 in Provo, Utah.

Citation:

His Escalante's vision of Utah Valley, ca. 1926: t.p. (Wm. J. Snow)

NUC pre-56 (Snow, William James, 1869-1947)

Find-A-Grave, via WWW, Dec. 3, 2020 (William James Snow Sr., William J. Snow; b. Apr. 16, 1869 in Lehi, Utah; parents: William Snow and Sally Adams; raised in Pine Valley, Utah; attended Brigham Young Academy, 1892-1893; taught school in Pine Valley, 1892-1898; m. May 10, 1899 in St. George, Utah to Hattie Thornton, five children; served mission for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New York; attended Brigham Young University, 1903-1910; studied at University of Utah and University of Chicago; master's degree, University of California, 1922; Ph.D., University of California, 1923; historian, focused on Utah prior to the settlement of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; professor of History at Brigham Young University for 38 years; chairman of the Library Committee, debating team; member of Board of Control, Utah State Historical Society for twenty years, president between 1931-1938; d. Oct. 14, 1947 in Provo, Utah)

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionary database, via WWW, Dec. 3, 2020 (William James Snow; served as missionary in Eastern States Mission, 1899-1901)

Brigham Young University annual catalogue, 1930: p. 11 (William J. Snow; bachelor's degree, Brigham Young University, 1919; Ph.D., University of California, 1923; principal, Uinta Stake Academy, 1906-1908; joined faculty of Brigham Young University, 1917)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records: