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Brimhall, George H. (George Henry), 1853-1932

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1853 - 1932

Biographical History

George H. Brimhall (1852-1932) was a student, teacher, principal, department head, acting president, president, president emeritus, and head of the alumni association at Brigham Young University.

George Henry Brimhall was born in Salt Lake City on December 9, 1852, to George Washington Brimhall and Rachel Ann Mayer. At age eighteen, he attended high school at the Timpanogos Branch of the University of Deseret in nearby Provo taught by Warren and Wilson Dusenberry. He and some friends built a school they named the Young Men's Academy. There Brimhall met Alsina Elizabeth Wilkins, a student at the academy, whom he married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on December 28, 1874. Together, they had six children. In September 1885, Brimhall married a second wife, Flora Robertson, in the Logan Temple. Together, they had eight children.

He gained teacher's certificates and diplomas and was elected superintendent of Utah County Schools and Provo City Schools. In 1891, the BYA Board of Trustees chairman, Abraham O. Smoot, asked Brimhall, to join Brigham Young Academy's teaching staff and head the Normal (teacher training) Department. Brimhall received the degree of Bachelor of Pedagogy and became BYA Alumni Association's first president. He received all of his higher education at BYA or BYU.

In 1898, Brimhall became a member of the General Church Board of Education. From 1900-1902, while Benjamin Cluff Jr. was away, he became acting principal of BYA. In December 1903, he received a letter from Joseph F. Smith asking him to be the president of the newly renamed Brigham Young University. He was inaugurated as BYU's second president on April 16, 1904 with Joseph B. Keller and Edwin S. Hinckley as his counselors.

Brigham Young University underwent a great deal of change under Brimhall's tenure. Student enrollment expanded, the degree of bachelor of pedagogy was replaced by the Bachelor of Arts and a master's degree was offered. In addition, The Banyan, the university's first yearbook was published, the block Y on a mountain above campus had been painted, thirty-seven acres of the upper (present) campus had been acquired, the first honorary degree had been conferred, and two new buildings (the Maeser Memorial Building and the Mechanic Arts Building, now known as the Brimhall Building) had been erected on upper campus.

Brimhall was released as president of BYU in 1921. He remained on campus and continued with his work for Church seminaries and as a member of the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. Brimhall died on July 29, 1932 in Provo, Utah.

Citation:
"George H. Brimhall's Legacy of Service to Brigham Young University", Mary Jane Woodger and Joseph H. Groberg (George H. Brimhall; born 1852 in Salt Lake City on December 9, 1852, to George Washington Brimhall and Rachel Ann Mayer; attended high school at the Timpanogos Branch of the University of Deseret in nearby Provo taught by Warren and Wilson Dusenberry; built a school they named the Young Men’s Academy; met Alsina Elizabeth Wilkins; married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on December 28, 1874; had six children; In September 1885, Brimhall married a second wife, Flora Robertson, in the Logan Temple; had eight children; teacher’s certificates and diplomas; elected superintendent of Utah County Schools and Provo City Schools; In 1891, joined Brigham Young Academy’s teaching staff and headed the Normal (teacher training) Department; received the degree of Bachelor of Pedagogy and became BYA Alumni Association’s first president; received all of his higher education at BYA or BYU; In 1898, Brimhall became a member of the General Church Board of Education; From 1900-1902, while Benjamin Cluff Jr. was away, he became acting principal of BYA; inaugurated as BYU’s second president on April 16, 1904 with Joseph B. Keller and Edwin S. Hinckley as his counselors; Brigham Young University underwent a great deal of change under Brimhall’s tenure. Student enrollment expanded, the degree of bachelor of pedagogy was replaced by the Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree was offered. In addition, The Banyan, the university's first yearbook was published, the block Y on a mountain above campus had been painted, thirty-seven acres of the upper (present) campus had been acquired, the first honorary degree had been conferred, and two new buildings (the Maeser Memorial Building and the Mechanic Arts Building, now known as the Brimhall Building) had been erected on upper campus; Brimhall was released as president of BYU in 1921; He remained on campus and continued with his work for Church seminaries and as a member of the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association; died on July 29, 1932 in Provo, Utah)

Found in 93 Collections and/or Records:

George H. Brimhall writings

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1229
Scope and Contents

Compilations of the writings of George H. Brimhall, produced by the George H. and Alsina Brimhall family descendants. These writings were produced for reference in the Brimhall Gallery in the George H. Brimhall Building.

Dates: 1988

Zina Presendia Young Williams Card papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 1421
Abstract

Correspondence, autobiographical and biographical materials, patriarchal blessings, legal documents, news articles, and miscellaneous items. The materials document the life and career of Card including her affiliation with Brigham Young Academy, the Mormon Church, and various civic organizations. The items also relate to the towns of Cardston, Alberta; Logan, Utah; and Provo, Utah. Also included is correspondence with various Mormon Church leaders and that of her husband, Charles O. Card.

Dates: 1881-1930

Collected correspondence to Arthur Edmund Berkman

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231243830]
Identifier: UA 591
Scope and Contents

Contains several letters to Arthur Berkman from President Brimhall, E. D. Partridge, and John L. Davis. President Brimhall's letter concerns Berkman's appointment to the Naval Academy. The other two letters were written to Berkman while he was at the Academy.

Dates: 1910-1912

Collection of diplomas and certificates

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 312
Scope and Contents

Certificates and diplomas awarded to faculty and students of Brigham Young University, Brigham Young Academy, and one from Ricks Normal College. Includes diplomas for George H. Brimhall, Edwin S. Hinckley, Margaret Vilate Elliott, Karl G. Maeser and Hester Mabel Warner. Items date from between 1870 and 1953.

Dates: 1870-1953

Collection on George H. Brimhall, 1874-1932

 Series
Identifier: UA 1092 Series 22
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, diaries, speeches, and other materials produced or collected by Brimhall between 1874 and 1932. Includes information on the university and seminary program, as well as materials related to religious instruction.

Dates: 1874-1932

James Austin Cope letters

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225532909]
Identifier: MSS 3308
Scope and Contents Collection consists of four letters, including: a Bill of Sale, 10 March 1931, signed by J. Austin Cope and notarized by Maurine Cope, transferring a safe brought into Utah in 1858 by Albert Sidney Johnston to BYU; letter from J. Austin Cope, 9 March 1931, to George Brimhall, explaining that he has donated the safe to BYU; "History of Safe," written by J. Austin Cope in Tropic, Utah explaining how the safe passed from Albert Johnston through various merchants and finally to him; and a rough...
Dates: 1931 March

Correspondence, 1881-1930

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1421 Series 1
Scope and Contents From the Collection: The Zina Young Williams Card collection is a valuable source of primary materials dealing with the early history of Logan, Utah and Cardston, Alberta, Canada. It also contains some documents related to her life in Provo, Utah and her affiliation with the educational institutions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in that day, particularly the Brigham Young Academy at Provo.The personal correspondence of Zina Young Williams Card covers the period from 1881 to 1930....
Dates: 1881-1930

Curriculum collection

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231035301]
Identifier: UA 165
Scope and Contents

Collection includes various reports and descriptions of courses offered by the University. 47 items.

Dates: 1914-1919

Financial Services records

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231035434]
Identifier: UA 149
Scope and Contents

Contains annual financial reports and estimates of expenses including teachers' salaries and departmental budgets, real estate sales, statements from Knight Trust and Savings Bank, and correspondence concerning financial affairs between the Office of the President of Brigham Young University, the Brigham Young University Board of Trustees and the Latter-day Saints Church Commission of Education. Includes 47 items.

Dates: 1911-1922

George H. Brimhall correspondence, 1904-1905

 Series
Identifier: UA 1092 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence by Brimhall with applicants, community members, and other educators. Materials deal with university administration, students, and education in Utah. Dated 1904 to 1905.

Dates: 1904-1905