Skip to main content

McKay, David O. (David Oman), 1873-1970

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1873 - 1970

Biographical History

David O. McKay (1873-1970) was a teacher and educator as well as the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1951 to 1970.

David Oman McKay was born in 1873 in Huntsville, Utah. In 1897 he graduated from the University of Utah and immediately afterward was called to serve a two-year mission to Scotland for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. On January 2, 1901, he and Emma Ray Riggs were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They had seven children together, one of whom died as a child. Although he began as a teacher, McKay eventually became principal at Weber Stake Academy (now Weber State University) and served on the Board of Trustees from 1908 to 1912. He later served on the Board of Regents of the University of Utah (1921-1922) and the Board of Trustees of Utah State Agricultural College (1940-1941). He was superintendent of the Church's Sunday schools from 1918 to 1934, and in 1919 he became its first Commissioner of Education. From 1922 to 1924 he served as President of the European Mission and from 1951 to 1970 he served as the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

McKay died on January 18, 1970 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
Ancient apostles, 1918: t.p. (David O. McKay)

LDS.org, via WWW, Feb. 13, 2006 (David O. McKay b. Sept. 8, 1873, born and spent his youth in Huntsville, Utah; d. Jan. 18, 1970 in Salt Lake City; served as 9th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1951 to 1970)

education.byu, via WWW, December 17, 2014 (David O. McKay; 1951-1970 President of church; b. 1873 Huntsville; 1897 graduated; Scotland two year mission; Principal Weber Stake Academy; 1908-1912 Board of Trustees; 1921-1922 Board of Regents; 1940-1941 Board of Trustees in Utah State Agricultural College; 1918-1934 superintendent of Church's Sunday Schools; 1919 first commissioner of eduation; 1922-1924 President European mission)

UPB files, Feb. 13, 2006 (McKay, David Oman, 1873-1970; usage: David O. McKay)

Found in 66 Collections and/or Records:

Photographs of David O. McKay, date of production not identified

 File — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231234383], Folder: 9
Identifier: UA 945 File 8

Photographs of David O. McKay Building dedication

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233620878]
Identifier: UA 1120
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs of the dedication of the David O. McKay Building, of David O. McKay himself, and of McKay with Ernest L. Wilkinson, and the First Presidency. Images date from between 1954 and 1979.

Dates: 1954-1979

Photographs of university trustees

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 830
Scope and Contents

Contains thirty-nine black-and-white photographs of presidents of the Board of Trustees of Brigham Young Academy and University; also views of chairmen of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of BYU. Also includes view of Karl G. Maeser's wife, Anna.

Dates: 1875-1975

Photographs of visitors to campus, 1909-1968

 Series — Carton 1: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3; Series 4; Series 5; Series 6; Series 7; Series 8; Series 9; Series 10; Series 11; Series 12; Series 13; Series 14; Series 15; Series 16 [Barcode: 31197233282521], Folder: 49
Identifier: UA 1070 Series 12
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs of various campus visitors and speakers at Brigham Young University, including Jean Piccard, a balloonist who taught at the BYU summer school in 1938, David Starr Jordan, President Taft, David O. McKay, and various other prominent visitors, 1909-1968.

Dates: 1909-1968

President David O. McKay, 1964-1970

 File — Carton 19: Series 2; Series 4 [Barcode: 31197233630604], Folder: 10
Identifier: UA 5395 Series 2 Sub-Series 5

Publications Office records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 476
Scope and Contents

Collection compiled in honor of David O. McKay on his 90th birthday which contains a pictorial summary showing growth of the Unified Church School System; a dedicatory letter from Ernest L. Wilkinson; cumulative enrollment charts of BYU, institutes, and seminaries; photographs of campuses, buildings, students, and leaders of schools in the Unified Church School System; and photographs of McKay, 1951-1963.

Dates: 1951-1963

Research on President David O. McKay, 1959-1996

 File — Carton 21: Series 2; Series 4 [Barcode: 31197233630620], Folder: 8
Identifier: UA 5395 Series 2 Sub-Series 5

Preston D. Richards papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1993
Abstract

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.

Dates: 1894-1970

Scrapbook on Brigham Young University buildings

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233647053]
Identifier: UA 5529
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of Brigham Young University buildings given to David O. McKay by Ernest L. Wilkinson in 1966.

Dates: 1950-1966

Seventeenth Annual Utah Conference on Higher Education papers

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231023737]
Identifier: MSS 6809
Abstract

The proceedings of the 17th Annual Utah Conference on Higher Education, as well as a program outlining the events of the weekend, dated September 15, 16, 1960.

Dates: 1960