Widtsoe, John Andreas, 1872-1952
Dates
- Existence: 1872 - 1952
Biographical History
John Andreas Widtsoe (1872-1952) served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and worked in agriculture and education during his life.
John Andreas Widtsoe was born January 31, 1872 on the island of Frøya in Norway. He was baptized in 1884 at the age of twelve. In 1888, he immigrated to Utah with his mother and brother. There he married Leah Dunford, a granddaughter of Brigham Young, on June 1, 1898 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had seven children together. John graduated from Harvard University in 1894 and with his Ph.D. from University of Goettingen, Germany, in 1899. He then taught in the agricultural colleges at Utah State University and Brigham Young University. He was president of the Utah Agricultural College from 1907 to 1916 and president of University of Utah in 1916.
During World War I he was a member of the Utah State Council of Defense and chairman of the Food Production Committee of Salt Lake City and the Irrigation Committee of the Food Administration. He was called into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1921 and served in that capacity until his death. As part of his work as an apostle, Widstoe wrote "Priesthood and Church Government," a popular manual about the workings of the priesthood.
He died November 29, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Citation:
UPB files, August 7, 2014, (John Andreas Widtsoe was born January 31, 1872 in Norway; He and his widowed mother and brother emigrated to Utah Territory in 1888; married Leah Dunford, a granddaughter of Brigham Young, on June 1, 1898 in Salt Lake City, Utah; graduated from Harvard University in 1894 and with his Ph.D. from University of Goettingen, Germany, in 1899; taught in the agricultural college of Utah State University and in this same department at Brigham Young University; called into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1921; died November 29, 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah)GApages.com, via WWW, Jan. 22, 2015 (island of Frøya; baptized at age of 12; seven children; president of Utah Agricultural College from 1907 to 1916 and president of University of Utah in 1916; WWI; member of the Utah State Council of Defense and chairman of the Food Production Committee of Salt Lake City and the Irrigation Committee of the Food Administration; wrote “Priesthood and Church Government,” a popular manual about the workings of the priesthood)
Found in 38 Collections and/or Records:
Photograph of the faculty of Alpine Summer School, approximately 1921-1929
Photograph of the inaugural procession of Franklin Stewart Harris
Photograph of Torlief Severin Knaphus sculpting a bust of John A. Widtsoe
Report of semi-centennial celebration of the founding of Brigham Young University
Preston D. Richards papers
The collection consists of papers regarding the life of Preston D. Richards. The collection has correspondence, newspaper clippings, certificates, photographs and other papers. It specifically deals with his life in terms of his business, church, and personal relations. The collection dates 1894-1970.
G. Oscar Russell correspondence
Collection contains two letters written by G. Oscar Russell. The first letter was written to James L. Barker; the second letter was written to John A. Widtsoe. The letters date from 1945.
Samuel Russell, Jr. correspondence on LDS church history, 1910 January 11-1950 February 23
Contains various correspondence of Samuel Russell [Jr.] about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; includes correspondence with James G. Duffin, Charles W. Penrose, Heber J. Grant, and John A. Widtsoe. 13 items, dated January 11, 1910 to February 23, 1950 (one letter undated).
Samuel Russell, Jr. mission letters, 1900 June 11-1901 December 9
Contains mission correspondence of Samuel Russell [Jr.] with Lorenzo Snow, Thomas Hull, the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Platt D. Lyman, John Widtsoe, and the Church's Second Quorum of Seventy. 10 items, dated June 11, 1900 to December 9, 1901.
Semi-centennial celebration of the Brigham Young University
Includes addresses, prayers, dedication of the Heber J. Grant Library, brief histories of the University and Academy.
Joseph West Smith letters received
Typewritten and signed letters dated 20 June and 17 Aug. 1923. The items are addressed to Joseph W. Smith and are signed by the Mormon Church leaders, Melvin J. Ballard and John A. Widtsoe. The letters deal primarily with business matters.