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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 8 Collections and/or Records:

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

Harris family papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 340
Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence, mementoes, published writings, unpublished writings, addresses, notes, scrapbooks, diaries, letters, and photograph albums created by members of the Harris family between 1818 and 1969. The majority of the materials document the life of Franklin S. Harris. Also includes personal writings by Dennison Emer Harris, and materials belonging to Emer Harris.

Dates: 1818-1969

Franklin Stewart Harris lantern slide of Estelle Spilsbury Harris

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227629315]
Identifier: MSS 3680
Scope and Contents

Collection contains one lantern slide of a portrait of the Estelle Spilsbury Harris, wife of Franklin Stewart Harris.

Dates: approximately 1900-1950

Franklin Stewart Harris photographs

 Collection
Identifier: MSS P 340
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs and lantern slides taken by Harris while on multiple trips around the world and in the western United States between 1910 and 1954. He used many of them as illustrations in books and articles that he published.

Dates: 1910-1954

Charles J. Hart photographs of Franklin Stewart Harris

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233235388]
Identifier: UA 5753
Scope and Contents

Two photographs taken by Hart of Franklin Stewart Harris at a university luncheon near the President's Home. Includes additional unidentified individuals. Photographs date from around 1925.

Dates: approximately 1925-1930

L. Tom Perry Special Collections exhibit prints

 Collection
Identifier: MSS P 17
Scope and Contents

Contains oversized prints from the collections of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections that were used in exhibits. All photographs in the collection were produced from negatives in the respective collections of each photographer. Materials dated approximately 1860-1930.

Dates: approximately 1860-1930

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

Report of semi-centennial celebration of the founding of Brigham Young University

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233259446]
Identifier: UA 894
Scope and Contents Record of events held as part of the semicentennial celebration, compiled by A. Rex Johnson and Melvin C. Miller. Includes transcripts of talks. Also includes a photograph showing people and parade floats in front of the Maeser Building. Speakers included George H. Brimhall, Willard Young, Adam S. Bennion, David J. Wilson, Herbert E. Bolton, Heber J. Grant, Franklin S. Harris, E. G. Peterson, John A. Widtsoe, Richard R. Lyman, and others. Includes a report on the dedication of the Heber...
Dates: 1925