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:
Brigham Young University roll books
Contains class roll books from Brigham Young University. The roll books contain attendance records and grades from courses by such professors as George H. Brimhall, Edwin S. Hinckley, and Karl G. Maeser. There are also a few roll books from high schools, and grade records from various years.
Flora Robertson Brimhall autobiography
Typewritten autobiography. Brimhall writes about her family background, her youth in Spanish Fork, Utah, her marriage to George H. Brimhall, and gives her reflections on polygamy. As an adult, she lived in Provo, Utah.
George H. Brimhall address
One four-minute address given by Brimhall at College Hall on May 24, 1926. The talk discusses briefly why it is important to learn things repetitively. Brimhall also lays out what his eighteen basic needs are in categories such as places to visit yearly, things to read yearly, memory gems to repeat often, things to keep clear in mind, things to be, and things needed in daily life.
George H. Brimhall graduation hood and robe
Contains one robe in plastic covering and one hood with a note that reads: George H. Brimhall. Graduation Hood Fits Over Regular Robe. Awarded to him about 1910 with Honorary Doctorate.
George H. Brimhall letters
Contains copies of two letters addressed to principles of Seminaries. The letters ask for statistics on attendance, enrollment, and other information about the Seminary program. George Brimhall was, at the time, Director of the Department of Theology at Brigham Young University.
George H. Brimhall papers
George H. Brimhall papers
Contains 53 items of handwritten and typewritten correspondence to and from Brimhall and Brigham Young University Alumni requesting and concerning reminiscences of experiences at Brigham Young Academy and Brigham Young University, 1925.
George H. Brimhall pocketknife
Pocketknife owned by George H. Brimhall. Date of manufacture and ownership by Brimhall not identified.
George H. Brimhall professional papers
Contains speeches, literary compositions, an autobiography, class notes and notebooks on philosophy of education, notes from speeches, an 1879 account of student tuition to the Young Men's Academy at Spanish Fork, Utah, and records of tuition accounts when Brimhall served as district superintendent of Utah County schools.
George H. Brimhall recruitment records for the missionary class of 1916
Contains correspondence to bishoprics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah requesting the application of young men to attend the Brigham Young University missionary class, and responses with names of prospective students from the bishoprics. 40 items. Dated 1916.