Brimhall, George H. (George Henry), 1853-1932
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 papers on seminary, 1863-1931
Contains correspondence, applications, and examinations from Brimhall related to the seminary program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Materials date from between 1863 and 1931.
George H. Brimhall papers on university administration, 1889-1922
Contains reports, minutes, and financial records collected by Brimhall related to university administration. Materials date from between 1889 and 1922.
George H. Brimhall personal correspondence, 1897-1901
Contains correspondence between George H. Brimhall and Church leaders, family, and others. Includes information on speaking engagements and Brimhall's service with the Sunday School. Materials date from between 1897 and 1901.
George Henry Brimhall, approximately 1871-1965
H. P. Hansen letter
Contains correspondence to Brigham Young University manuscript librarian Ralph Hansen about recollections of teachers, classes, housing, and life as a Brigham Young Academy student.
Daniel Harrington papers
Correspondence, legal papers, mementos, certificates, and family papers. Correspondents include James E. Talmage, George H. Brimhall, and Karl G. Maeser. Also included is a certificate signed by President Ulysses S. Grant.
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.
Robert A. Holmes letters
Handwritten letters all dated within 1911. One was addrssed to George H. Brimhall, president of Brigham Young University, while the other two were addressed to the editor of the "Improvement Era," a Mormon Church publication. Holmes speculates on the geography of the Book of Mormon and criticises the theories of B. H. Roberts, the Mormon scholar.
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.
J. Edward Johnson papers
Contains a draft of a biography of George H. Brimhall, which includes Johnson's personal recollections of Brigham Young University. Also contains a loose leaf manuscript of the biography composed by J. Edward Johnson entitled "George H. Brimhall: An Attempted Approximation of His Genius, Accomplishments, Stature," and a letter from Johnson concerning the manuscript. Materials date from approximately 1975.