Whetten, Lester B. (Lester Benjamin), 1904-1988
Biographical History
Lester B. Whetten (1904-1988) was an educational administrator in Utah.
Lester Benjamin Whetten was born on June 23, 1904 in Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico, to John Amasa and Martha Elizabeth Carling Whetten. He attended school at Brigham Young University, where he studied animal science, sociology and Spanish. On June 18, 1930 he married Kate Allred in the Cardston Temple in Alberta, Canada. After his graduation in 1932, he completed a master's degree in education administration and then did advanced studies in higher education administration at the University of Chicago.
After completing his education, Whetten built a successful career in educational administration. This included work as the executive dean of the Chicago College of Osteopathy (1937-1942), superintendent of schools in Pagosa Springs, Colorado (1942-1943), president of Snow College (Ephraim, Utah, 1953-1956), director of agriculture at Mesa College (Grand Junction, Colorado), director of public relations and dean of general college at Brigham Young University (1956-1972), and chairman of Indian Education Department (1972-1973).
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Whetten served as a mission president in Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico. He also served as a regional representative for the Church in El Salvador, Spain, and Portugal.
Whetten died on December 3, 1988 in Walnut Creek, California.
Citation:
Oral history interview with Lester Whetten, 1983 (Lester B. Whetten)Register of the Faculty Biographical Files, 1900-2000 (Lester B. Whetten)
FamilySearch, 14 April 2011 (Lester Benjamin WHETTEN; b. 23 JUN 1904 Mexico; d. 3 Dec 1988 Utah)
Ancestry.com, via WWW, Sept. 23, 2013 (Lester Benjamin Whetten; Lester B. Whetten; b. June 23, 1904 in Garcia, Mexico; parents: John Amasa Whetten and Martha Carling; m. June 18, 1930 to Kate Allred; lived in Mont., Provo, Utah; d. Dec. 3, 1988 in Contra Costa County, Calif.)
Deseret News, Dec. 7, 1988 (Lester B. Whetten; Lester Benjamin Whetten; b. June 23, 1904, Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico, to John Amasa and Martha Elizabeth Carling Whetten; m. Kate Allred on June 18, 1930, in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, LDS Temple; graduated from BYU, 1932 with majors in animal science, sociology and Spanish; master's in education administration in 1934; advanced studies in higher education administration on fellowship at the University of Chicago; executive dean, Chicago College of Osteopathy, 1937-1942; superintendent of schools, Pagosa Springs, Colo., 1942-1943; president of Snow College, 1953-1956; director of agriculture, Mesa College (Grand Junction, Colo.); director of public relations and dean of general college, Brigham Young University, 1956-1972; chairman of Indian Education Department, 1972-1973; member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; president of the Mexico City and Guadalajara missions; regional representative for El Salvador, Spain, and Portugal; d. Dec. 3, 1988 in Walnut Creek, Calif.)
Found in 34 Collections and/or Records:
Public Relations Division general records on public relations, 1951-1961
Contains administrative files, including correspondence, budgets, mailings, minutes, clippings, brochures, reports, and other materials.
Public Relations Division records on American College Public Relations Association, 1950-1961
Contains administrative files, including correspondence, programs and brochures, minutes, memos, newsletters, and other material related to the American College Public Relations Association (ACPRA).
Public Relations Division records on education, 1953-1961
Contains correspondence and other materials on Christian Higher Education, Sanpete County Development, the American Council and Utah Conference on Higher Education, Readings in higher education, the value of a college education, and other topics.
Public Relations Division records on faculty, 1957-1960
Contains Dean's Council minutes and papers, files on faculty benefits, data sheets, handbooks, lists, and workshops.
Public Relations Division records on high school relations, 1956-1961
Contains correspondence, handbooks, contracts, newsletters, directories, and other materials of Utah High School, Brigham Young High School, Career Days, and other events.
Public Relations Division records on inter-school relations, 1956-1961
Contains correspondence, manuals, and other material related to work by the division to build relationships with other educational institutions.
Public Relations Division records on junior college relations, 1957-1961
Contains events schedules, correspondence, proposals, minutes, reports, and miscellany of the Terminal Education and Curriculum Steering Committees.
Public Relations Division records on press relations, 1956-1961
Contains administrative files, including advertisements, correspondence, clippings, reports, and other materials.
Public Relations Division records on Program Bureau, 1948-1961
Contains administrative files, including applications, correspondence, reports, schedules, clippings, and other materials regarding the awards banquet, budgets, the Orient Tour, and other events.
Public Relations Division records on programs and assemblies, 1957-1960
Contains administrative files, including correspondence, programs and brochures, clippings, reports, minutes, proposals, and other materials.