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Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1884 - 1960

Biographical History

Franklin Stewart Harris (1884-1960) was President of Brigham Young University from 1921 to 1945. During that time he helped the university grow both physically, with adding new buildings and also intellectually by hiring more teachers and establishing international connections for the University.

Franklin Stewart Harris was born August 29, 1884 in Benjamin, Utah. He moved with his family to the state of Chihuahua, Mexico in the 1890s to the colonies there. He would study at Brigham Young University and go on to Cornell to receive his doctorate. Harris served as president of Brigham Young University from 1921 until 1945. His administration was characterized by improvement in academics and by growth of the University's physical facilities, such as the construction of the Heber J. Grant Library building. Even with the financial pressures of the Great Depression from the late 1920s to the 1930s, Harris was able to help increase Brigham Young University attendance, library and campus facilities.

In 1945 Harris left Brigham Young University to be the president of the Utah State Agricultural College (what is now Utah State University). He died April 18, 1960 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
LCCN 24-22058: His Scientific research and human welfare, 1924 (hdg.: Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960; usage: Franklin Stewart Harris)

The many lives of Franklin S. Harris, [2003], ©2003: t.p. (Franklin S. Harris) p.1 (b. 29 August 1884, Benjamin, Utah) p.341 (d. 18 April 1960, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Wikipedia, website viewed 20 May 2011 (Franklin S. Harris; Franklin Stewart Harris; b. August 29, 1884 in Benjamin, Utah Territory, United States; d. April 18, 1960; president of Brigham Young University 1921-1945; president of Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University) 1945-1950; agricultural scientist; doctorate from Cornell University; professor and head of the agricultural experiment station at Utah State Agriculrural College; undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University; childhood in the Colonies in Chihuahua, Mexico; candidate for United States Senate in Utah in 1938; General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1923; mission to Japan in 1926; mission to Syria in 1927)

Brigham Young University Office of the President, May 28, 2014 (Past Presidents; president from 1921-1945)

BYU Magazine, May 28, 2014 (Franklin S. Harris; administration characterized by improvement in academics; increased attendance, library, and facilities)

Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, vol. 4, 1941: p. 240 (moved to Chihuahua, Mexico in the 1890s; studied at Brigham Young University and Cornell University)

Found in 111 Collections and/or Records:

Image of Albert D. Swensen photograph of reception for President and Mrs. Franklin S. Harris
Image of Albert D. Swensen photograph of r...

Brigham Young University inaugural speeches and responses

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233274817]
Identifier: UA SC 19
Scope and Contents

Contains only inaugural speeches and responses by presidents Harris, McDonald, Wilkinson, Oaks, Holland, and Lee.

Dates: 1921-1989
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Brigham Young University presidential portraits

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5333
Scope and Contents

Contains portraits of the presidents of the university from Warren N. Dusenberry to Merrill J. Bateman, excluding Rex E. Lee's portrait. Materials date from between 1875 and 2003.

Dates: 1875-2003
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Brigham Young University salaries, budget, and finances

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231033975]
Identifier: UA 120
Scope and Contents

Includes enrollment records and financial reports, and discussion and dissent about faculty salaries during the tenure of president Franklin Harris.

Dates: 1939-1943
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Brigham Young University yearbooks

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231187862]
Identifier: MSS 2073
Scope and Contents Three volumes of BYU yearbook, the Banyan, belonging to Chauncy D. Harris. Also includes scrapbook, which temporarily replaced Banyan for year 1932, of Edith Young, who later married Chauncy Harris. Each volume contains personal messages from the owner's schoolmates. The scrapbook includes newspaper clippings, ephemera, and photographs. The following is written inside front cover of 1930 volume: "Presented to Chauncy D. Harris by his father, May 30, 1930." Chauncy was a son of BYU...
Dates: 1930-1933
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Chauncy D. Harris interview, Chicago, Illinois

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230328723]
Identifier: MSS SC 2945
Scope and Contents Comments on his early life and on the influence of his father, Franklin S. Harris, president of Brigham Young University (BYU). Also comments on attendance at the following institutions of higher learning: BYU, 1930-1934; University of Chicago, 1933, 1934, and 1937-1939; Oxford University, 1934-1936; London School of Economics, 1936-1937; and Kent State University, 1937. Includes comments on his early interest in geography, some of his teachers at BYU and the University of Chicago, and his...
Dates: 1986; 1986
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

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
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Correspondence and reminiscences about Franklin S. Harris administration, 1973-1974

 Sub-Series — Box 138: Series 3; Series 4 [Barcode: 31197232517547], Folder: 1
Identifier: UA 566 Series 3 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and personal reminiscences of Brigham Young University during Franklin S. Harris' time as university president. Materials dated 1973 to 1974.

Dates: 1973-1974
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Centennial History Project records / Centennial History Project source material files

Correspondence to family members, 1929

 File — Box 20: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197231064434], Folder: 4
Identifier: MSS 340 Series 2 Sub-Series 4 Sub-Series 2 File 4
Dates: 1929
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Harris family papers / Franklin Stewart Harris personal papers / Franklin Stewart Harris notes and other material / Franklin Stewart Harris notes and writing on travel to Russia

Executive Committee meeting minutes

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231036655]
Identifier: UA 256
Scope and Contents

Contains minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee of the Brigham Young University Board of Trustees (8 items). Materials date from between 1921 and 1922.

Dates: 1921-1922
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

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