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Alexander, Thomas G., 1935-

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1935-

Biographical History

Thomas G. Alexander (born 1935) was a professor at Brigham Young University and authored a number of award winning books concerning Latter-day Saint and Utah history.

Thomas G. Alexander was born in Logan, Utah on August 8, 1935, to Glen M. and Violet B. Alexander. He married Marilyn Johns of Ogden on August 15, 1959. They are the parents of five children and have six grandchildren.

He attended schools in Ogden, and earned an A. S. from Weber State University (1955), a BS (1960) and MS (1961) from Utah State University, and a PhD in American History from the University of California at Berkeley (1965). From 1956 to 1958 he served in the West German Mission.

He taught at Brigham Young University from 1964 to 2004, where he has the Lemuel Hardison Redd, Jr. Professor of Western American History and also the Director of Charles Redd Center for Western Studies. He taught Utah history and American environmental history. He has also taught at Utah State University, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Southern Illinois University (where he held a National Historical Records Commission Fellowship), and the University of Utah. He is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of 24 books and monographs, more than 125 scholarly articles, and scores of reviews and scholarly presentations. He has also consulted with a number of national and international organizations and law firms, and on a number of television programs on the history of Utah and the Latter-day Saints.

At BYU he served as chair of the Faculty Advisory Council, and received the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award, the highest faculty honor bestowed by the university.

He has won a number of awards for his publications. These include prizes for Mormonism in Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890-1930 and Things in Heaven and Earth: The Life and Times of Wilford Woodruff, a Prophet for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His book, Utah: The Right Place, was commissioned by the State of Utah as the official centennial history, and it is used in a number of institutions as a text for Utah history.

He has served as president of the Pacific Branch of the American Historical Association; the Mormon History Association; the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters; and the Association of Utah Historians; and as chair of the Utah Board of State History and the Utah Humanities Council. He is currently Vice President of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society.

He is a fellow of the Utah State Historical Society and the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. Weber State University awarded him their Emeriti Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

He has served in a large number of church positions including as a member of four bishoprics (including as a bishop), as a stake high councilman, and as ward and stake executive secretary. In 2004, after his retirement, he served an LDS Church Educational System mission in Berlin, Germany with his wife.

Citation:
Arrington, L. J. A dependent commonwealth, 1974

Woodruff, Wilford. In the whirlpool, 2011: ECIP t.p. (Thomas G. Alexander) change request from pub., A.H. Clark Co., Aug. 3, 2010 (requests that date of birth be added to hdg.)

Wikipedia, website viewed 6 January 2011 (Thomas G. Alexander; Thomas Glen Alexander; born August 8, 1935 in Logan, Utah; raised in Ogden, Utah; mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the West German Mission, 1956-1958; AA from Weber State University; B.S. in 1960 and M.A. in 1961 from Utah State University; American historian; professor emeritus from Brigham Young University; joined faculty in 1964 where he taught Utah history and environmental history; Lemuel Hardison Redd, Jr. Professor of Western History; director of Charles Redd Center for Western Studies; taught at Utah State University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Southern Illinois University, and University of Utah; president of the Mormon History Association 1974-1975; president of the Pacific Branch of the American History Association; president and fellow of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters; president of the Association of Utah Historians; chair Utah Board of State History; chair of the Utah Humanities Council; national president of Phi Alpha Theta; fellow of the Utah State Historical Society; chair BYU's Faculty Advisory Council)

Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:

Thomas G. Alexander papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 1970
Scope and Contents Contains the professional and personal papers of Thomas G. Alexander, dated 1954 to 2018. The professional papers include correspondence, reports, minutes, articles, awards, manuscript drafts, newspaper articles, posters, photographs, questionnaires, outlines, and audiocassettes. These materials pertain to research, students, committees, professional organizations, and courses taught by Dr. Alexander. The personal papers pertain to the U.S. Army and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day...
Dates: 1954-2018

Charles Redd Center for Western Studies director personal papers, 1978-1991

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 478 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Materials include correspondence, reports, articles, research notes, and lecture notes from Director Thomas G. Alexander. The materials pertain to Alexander's time as a teacher in the Department of History and as Director of the Redd Center. Dated 1978-1991.

Dates: 1978-1991

Charles Redd Center for Western Studies director professional papers, 1970-1996

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 478 Series 1 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Materials include budgets, correspondence, and reports from Director Thomas G. Alexander. Dated 1970-1996.

Dates: 1970-1996

Charles Redd Center for Western Studies director records, 1970-1996

 Series
Identifier: UA 478 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Materials include correspondence, reports, notes, articles, and budgets from the Office of the Director. The materials pertain to Thomas G. Alexander's time as director and teacher. Included are professional papers and personal papers. Dated 1970-1996.

Dates: 1970-1996

Charles Redd Center for Western Studies records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 478
Scope and Contents

Materials include reports, correspondence, articles, audiotapes, videotapes, corporate minutes, and budgets from the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies. The materials pertain to documents from the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies, Office of the Associate Director, and research documents compiled from Jessie Embry regarding oral history projects. Dated approximately 1810-2012.

Dates: approximately 1810-2012

Thomas G. Alexander correspondence, 1963-2018

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1970 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains the personal and professional correspondence of Thomas G. Alexander from 1963 to 2018. This correspondence adresses various topcs, including environmental history, irrigation, development of public architecture, and exchanging of publication drafts with colleagues.

Dates: 1963-2018

Thomas G. Alexander general office papers, 1963-2004

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1970 Series 3 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains reports, correspondence, and newspapers from Thomas G. Alexander dated 1963-2004. Specifically contains library and course communication, department meetings, and history events.

Dates: 1963-2004

Thomas G. Alexander office national research facilities papers, 1961-1974

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1970 Series 3 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to national research facilities such as the Library of Congress, National Archives, and various archives and libraries at various universities. Dated from 1961 to 1974.

Dates: 1961-1974

Thomas G. Alexander office papers, 1957-2018

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1970 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains minutes, correspondence, and reports from meetings, conferences, seminars, and professional organizations with which Thomas G. Alexander was associated. Also included are student papers. Dated 1957 to 2018.

Dates: 1957-2018

Thomas G. Alexander office professional organizations papers, 1957-2017

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1970 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Includes minutes, correspondence, and reports from the professional organizations with which Thomas G. Alexander was associated. The organizations include Provo City Landmarks Commission, Utah Valley Chapter of the Utah State Historical Society, National Historical Publications Commission, Western History Association, Organization of American Historians, Forest History Society, and Genealogical Society. Dated 1957 to 2017.

Dates: 1957-2017