Office of the President records on World War II, 1943-1945

Series — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA 1089 Series 3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Contains materials related to Brigham Young University during World War II, through correspondence and reports from Brigham Young University President Franklin S. Harris. The reports include office candidate school and technical programs run on campus to prepare students to serve in the military and reference letters to military branches written by Harris recommending students to officer training programs. Also included are reports outlining the effects of the mobilization for the war on Brigham Young University and comparing it to the effects of World War I. Also contains post war planning for the University that touched on topics concerning the rise of numbers of men and women returning to college, the global political situation, and the use of federal aid money for returning servicemen.

Dates

Creation: 1943-1945

Creator

Brigham Young University. Office of the President (creator, Organization)
Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960 (contributor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Restricted. Closed for 70 years from the end date of the administration, and thereafter open to the public in accordance with the University Archives Policy.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Brigham Young University President's Records must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

From the Collection:

Franklin Stewart Harris (1884-1960) was President of Brigham Young University from 1921 to 1945. During that time he helped the university grow both physically, with adding new buildings and also intellectually by hiring more teachers and establishing international connections for the University.

Franklin Stewart Harris was born August 29, 1884 in Benjamin, Utah. He moved with his family to the state of Chihuahua, Mexico in the 1890s to the Mormon colonies there. He would study at Brigham Young University and go on to Cornell to receive his doctorate. Harris served as president of Brigham Young University from 1921 until 1945. His administration was characterized by improvement in academics and by growth of the University's physical facilities, such as the construction of the Heber J. Grant Library building. Even with the financial pressures of the Great Depression from the late 1920s to the 1930s, Harris was able to help increase Brigham Young University attendance, library and campus facilities.

In 1945 Harris left Brigham Young University to be the president of the Utah State Agricultural College (what is now Utah State University). He died April 18, 1960 in Salt Lake City, Utah.