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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 51 Collections and/or Records:

George H. Brimhall professional papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231027431]
Identifier: UA 72
Scope and Contents

Contains speeches, literary compositions, an autobiography, class notes and notebooks on philosophy of education, notes from speeches, an 1879 account of student tuition to the Young Men's Academy at Spanish Fork, Utah, and records of tuition accounts when Brimhall served as district superintendent of Utah County schools.

Dates: 1872-1926

Benjamin Cluff diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1667
Scope and Contents

Contains four diaries and their respective transcripts covering the period from 1881-1909 and detailing Cluff's time as a student at Brigham Young Academy and the University of Michigan, as well as his subsequent appointment as President of the Academy. Also describes his activities and experiences as a plantation owner in Tabasco, Mexico.

Dates: 1881-1909

Benjamin Cluff Jr. papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 135
Scope and Contents

Contains a scrapbook containing newspaper articles (photocopy) concerning the Brigham Young Academy South American Expedition, and The Brigham Young Alumnus.

Dates: 1900-1902

Benjamin Cluff Jr. photographs and correspondence

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1013
Scope and Contents

Contains ten photographs and five correspondence of Benjamin Cluff, Jr. Among the photographs is a family picture of the Benjamin and Harriett Cluff family. Correspondence is between Cluff and his son, Cyril, as well as Cluff and the Utah-Mexican Rubber Company.

Dates: 1911-1943

Benjamin Cluff Jr. theological notes

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231035079]
Identifier: UA 191
Scope and Contents

Contains bound notes on theology (240 pages), articles by Cluff, education notes, world situation notes, and titles of library books, 1882-1885.

Dates: 1882-1885

Benjamin Cluff letter to Ole H. Berg

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230347384]
Identifier: MSS SC 2922
Scope and Contents

Invitation to O. H. Berg, bishop of the Provo 1st Ward (Latter-day Saint), to attend groundbreaking ceremonies for a building to house preparatory and missionary schools on the Brigham Young University campus.

Dates: 1903

Florence Mary Reynolds Cluff papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230339787]
Identifier: MSS 2546
Scope and Contents

Contains two photocopied letters: one written by Florence Mary Reynolds and the other addressed to Benjamin Cluff, Jr. from one of his students. Also included is a brief biographical sketch of Florence Mary Reynolds.

Dates: 1934-1973

Collection of diplomas and certificates

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 312
Scope and Contents

Certificates and diplomas awarded to faculty and students of Brigham Young University, Brigham Young Academy, and one from Ricks Normal College. Includes diplomas for George H. Brimhall, Edwin S. Hinckley, Margaret Vilate Elliott, Karl G. Maeser and Hester Mabel Warner. Items date from between 1870 and 1953.

Dates: 1870-1953

Collection of sketches of Brigham Young University presidents

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225551495]
Identifier: UA 1270
Scope and Contents

Series of panorama-style sketches of the presidents of Brigham Young University from Warren N. Dusenberry through Jeffrey R. Holland.

Dates: 1980

Cox family papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5282
Scope and Contents

Contains three family histories-one of Ray P. Cox, one of George Byron Cox, Jr., and one of Susan Lucretia Henrie Cox. It also contains a compact disc that contains each of the histories. Also included is a diary that contains notes from a lecture given by Benjamin Cluff, Jr. The notebook was kept by George B. Cox, Jr.

Dates: 1853-2004