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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 51 Collections and/or Records:

Franklin Stewart Harris photographs of around-the-world trip, 1926-1927

 Series
Identifier: MSS P 340 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs taken by Harris during his round-the-world trip from 1926 to 1927. Includes images of Hawaii, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Dates: 1926-1927

Franklin Stewart Harris photographs of Brigham Young University, Utah, and Idaho, 1924-1926

 Series
Identifier: MSS P 340 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs that were taken after Harris came to Brigham Young University as president. There is a gap from his last photograph at Logan in 1921 to the first of the Y series in April 1924. The last photographs in this series were taken in July 1926, just before he left on his trip around the world. These photographs are 2-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches (6 x 10-1/2 cm).

Dates: 1924-1926

Franklin Stewart Harris papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231033926]
Identifier: UA 125
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1921

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

History of Brigham Young University

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231022010]
Identifier: UA 483
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: Publication: 1942

Honorary memberships for Brigham Young University presidents

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231234490]
Identifier: UA 1185
Scope and Contents

Certificates of honorary membership in the Sons of Utah Pioneers for all Brigham Young University presidents from Warren Dusenberry through Cecil O. Samuelson.

Dates: 2005

Janet Jenson collection of Franklin Stewart Harris and family correspondence, 1939-1962

 Series — Box 4: Series 2; Series 3; Series 4 [Barcode: 31197225546917]
Identifier: UA 1106 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Materials include letters to and from the Harris family. Dated 1939-1962.

Dates: 1939-1962

Janet Jenson collection of Franklin Stewart Harris diaries, 1847-1972

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1106 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Materials include diaries of Frankie Estelle Spilsbury Harris and papers of Eunice S. Harris. Dated 1847-1972.

Dates: 1847-1972

Janet Jenson collection of Franklin Stewart Harris newspaper clippings, 1946-1960

 Series — Box 5: Series 5; Series 6; Series 7 [Barcode: 31197225546925]
Identifier: UA 1106 Series 5
Scope and Contents

Materials include newspaper clippings regarding the achievements of Franklin S. Harris as well as his death. Dated 1946-1960.

Dates: 1946-1960