Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960
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 38 Collections and/or Records:
Franklin Stewart Harris lantern slide of Estelle Spilsbury Harris
Collection contains one lantern slide of a portrait of the Estelle Spilsbury Harris, wife of Franklin Stewart Harris.
Franklin Stewart Harris papers
Includes edited, typewritten copies of his inaugural address "The Outlook for the Brigham Young University," and a letter concerning the history of the grounds at Brigham Young University. 4 items.
Franklin Stewart Harris photographs
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.
Charles J. Hart photographs of Franklin Stewart Harris
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.
History of Brigham Young University
History produced by J. Marinus Jensen, Newbern Butt, Elsie Carroll and Bertha Roberts of the Committee on University History, all appointed by Franklin Harris, 1937. 337 pages.
Honorary memberships for Brigham Young University presidents
Certificates of honorary membership in the Sons of Utah Pioneers for all Brigham Young University presidents from Warren Dusenberry through Cecil O. Samuelson.
Christen Jensen papers
Collection includes correspondence, reports, memoranda, minutes, and examinations concerning Brigham Young University transfer credits, awards, faculty meetings, graduate school, Franklin S. Harris, Ernest L. Wilkinson, history, political science, and public administration.
Janet Jenson collection on Franklin Stewart Harris
A. Rex Johnson correspondence
Contains 163 letters to and from Johnson while he was student body president and president of the Alumni Association. It also includes correspondence with president Harris, faculty, administrators, and others outside of campus. It also contains information concerning his life after leaving Brigham Young University. Dated 1922-1930.
L. Tom Perry Special Collections exhibit prints
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.