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Cluff, Benjamin, Jr., 1858-1948

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1858 - 1948

Biographical History

Benjamin Cluff, Jr. (1858-1948) was an educator and businessman in Utah and California. He was principal of Brigham Young Academy and president of Brigham Young University from 1892 to 1903.

Benjamin Cluff, Jr. was born in Provo, Utah on February 7, 1858 to Benjamin Cluff and Mary Ellen Foster. In 1877, Cluff enrolled in Brigham Young Academy and began working as a janitor to pay for his tuition. However, soon after he received a call to serve a mission to the Sandwich Islands. Returning to Utah in 1882, Cluff was offered a teaching job as an instructor of mathematics at Brigham Young Academy by Karl G. Maeser. In 1886, he attended the University of Michigan and received his Bachelor of Science in 1890. Upon his return to Utah, he became the assistant principal of the Brigham Young Academy.

Cluff was married to Mary Jane John in 1883, and later entered into marriage with Harriet Cullimore in 1886, and Florence Mary Reynolds in 1898. He had twenty-one children with his three wives.

Under Cluff's direction, plans for a new building were begun and students selected white and blue as the school colors. Cluff returned to the University of Michigan for a master's degree in 1893, and became the principal of the academy when he returned to Utah. In 1895 Cluff's title was changed to president, and heads of departments were named principals. He led an expedition of students to South America in 1900 for the purpose of archaeological research. On October 3, 1903, the school became Brigham Young University. In December, Cluff resigned and took a position as superintendent of a rubber plantation in Mexico. The Cluffs returned to the United States in 1924 and opened a store in Southern California. Cluff died June 14, 1948, in Redondo Beach, California.

Citation:
Harold B. Lee Library. Dept. of Archives and Manuscripts. Register of the Benjamin Cluff, Jr. diaries, 1986: p. 1 (b. Feb. 7, 1858; d. June 16, 1948; former Pres. of Brigham Young Univ.)

Ancestry.com, June 15, 2011 (Benjamin Cluff; Benjamin Cluff Jr.; b. Feb. 7, 1858 in Provo, Utah; d. June 14, 1948 in Los Angeles, Calif.)

Brigham Young University High School website, June 15, 2011: Benjamin Cluff Jr. page (teacher, third principal of Brigham Young Academy, first president of Brigham Young University, academic innovator and explorer; parents were Benjamin Cluff Sr. and Mary Ellen Foster Cluff; librarian of the Coalville City Library; mathematics instructor at Brigham Young Academy; became principal of the academy in 1892; led expedition to Central America from 1900 to 1902; resigned as president in 1903; later ran a rubber plantation in Mexico and a grocery business in Calif.)

Benjamin Cluff Jr. website, June 15, 2011 (earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan)

Missionary Diaries website, via WWW, Dec. 20, 2012: Benjamin Cluff, Jr. (1858-1948; b. Feb 7, 1858 in Provo, Utah; parents: Benjamin Cluff and Mary Ellen Foster; 1877, enrolled at Brigham Young Academy, worked as janitor; Sandwich Islands call, 1882; teaching job in mathematics, 1886; studied at University of Michigan, bachelor's degree 1890; assistant principal at Brigham Young Academy, m. Mary Jane John, 1883; m. Harriet Cullimore, 1886; m. Florence Mary Reynolds, 1898; twenty-one children; Academy moved to new building, adopted white and blue, Cluff earned master's degree, 1893; principal of Brigham Young Academy, 1895; president, left on South American expedition, 1900; October 3, 1903 had Academy name changed to Brigham Young University; superintendence rubber plantation in Mexico; 1924, store in Southern California; d. June 14, 1948 in Redondo Beach, Calif.)

Found in 67 Collections and/or Records:

John B. Fairbanks diaries

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231567188]
Identifier: MSS 140
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries with typescripts of several items. The diaries have many gaps. They principally cover the time Fairbanks served as a missionary for the Mormon Church in the Southern States Mission from 1881 to 1883 and when he served as a missionary for the same faith in South and Central America from 1900 to 1902. On the second mission, Fairbanks accompanied the "Cluff" expedition; led by Benjamin Cluff, president of the Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah; to find evidence supporting...
Dates: 1877-1914

General correspondence, 1880-1927

 File — Box 3: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197231038438], Folder: 22
Identifier: MSS 15 Series 1 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Materials include correspondence sent to Orson F. Whitney from friends, Church leaders, and admirers (including George H. Brimhall, Benjamin Cluff, and Richard R. Lyman). The writers of the letters compliment his writings, solicit advice, provide general updates, discuss travels, and inquire about gospel principles. Dated 1880-1927.

Dates: 1880-1927

Paul Soren Hanson journal

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230349802]
Identifier: MSS 4062
Abstract

Paul Soren Hanson's journal about the 1900 BYU Academy Cluff Expedition to Arizona.

Dates: 1900

Mildred Cluff Harvey papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227625487]
Identifier: MSS 3951
Scope and Contents Contains papers on Mildred Cluff Harvey and her family. Materials date from between 1866 and 1947. Includes the following: 1. The Biography of Mildred Cluff Harvey by her daughter, Lucile H. Ursenbach, 1900-1947. Typed, 17 pages. 2. Newspaper pages about Benjamin Cluff Jr., Mildred's brother, August 1970. 2 leaves. 3. Mildred Cluff autobiography. 1862-1898. Typed, 9 pages. 4. Mildred Cluff autobiography. 1862-1898. Original pencil handwriting, 19 pages. 5. Photocopied articles about the...
Dates: 1866-1947

History of Brigham Young University

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231022010]
Identifier: UA 483
Scope and Contents

History produced by J. Marinus Jensen, Newbern Butt, Elsie Carroll and Bertha Roberts of the Committee on University History, all appointed by Franklin Harris, 1937. 337 pages.

Dates: Publication: 1942

Honorary memberships for Brigham Young University presidents

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231234490]
Identifier: UA 1185
Scope and Contents

Certificates of honorary membership in the Sons of Utah Pioneers for all Brigham Young University presidents from Warren Dusenberry through Cecil O. Samuelson.

Dates: 2005

Scott G. Kenney research materials

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2022
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of correspondence, minutes, journals, and subject research files of Scott Kinney. These materials relate to Joseph F. Smith (1832-1918) sixth President of the LDS Church. The bulk of the collection deals with the years 1870 to 1918. These research files are documentation for Kinney's proposed biography of Smith.

Dates: 1820-1984

Emil Maeser papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231036747]
Identifier: UA 236
Scope and Contents

Notebook containing various essays, reports, and schedules. Materials date from between 1886 and 1892.

Dates: 1886-1892

Parley Pratt Nelson diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2261
Scope and Contents

Collection contains photocopies of two diaries of Parley Pratt Nelson, a student who participated on the Benjamin Cluff Brigham Young Academy Expedition (1899-1900) and served a mission in Southern California for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1901-1903).

Dates: 1900-1903

Office of the President correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: UA 1093
Scope and Contents Contains the correspondence files of President Cluff, with the exception of his first year of administration. The papers date from between 1893 and 1904, and are incoming except for 1897 to 1900. Also includes Cluff's correspondence as president of the People's Canal & Irrigation Company. Includes information on Cluff's administration of the Academy, and the school's relationship to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Board of Education. Also includes correspondence regarding...
Dates: 1893-1904