Skip to main content

Ben E. Lewis personal papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2203

Scope and Contents

Contains annual volumes of randomly organized reminiscences of his life, including childhood in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah; scouting; family; missionary service; education and profession; the building of the Provo and Jordan River temples; and work at Brigham Young University, including interactions with Ernest L. Wilkinson and Dallin H. Oaks. Also includes addresses and poems by Lewis, an oral history, and Lewis family history. Materials dated 1944-2003 (bulk: 1988-2003).

Dates

  • 1944-2003
  • Majority of material found within 1988-2003

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Ben E. Lewis personal papers must be obtained from the Permissions & Licensing Office of the University and the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Ben E. Lewis (1913-2005) was an executive vice president of Brigham Young University.

Ben Eldon Lewis was born November 16, 1913 to George William and Olena Dorothea Kempe Lewis in Mesa, Arizona. He married Barbara Rae Wootton on October 4, 1944 in Salt Lake City. They eventually had five children: Linda, Stephen, James, Mary Anne, and John. Lewis attended Brigham Young University, where he was elected student body president, and then the University of Denver, where he earned a Master's degree. He was employed by Hot Shoppes, Inc., which later became the Marriott Corporation, for seven years. In 1952, he returned to BYU to work in administration, eventually being promoted to executive vice president. Lewis was active in his community and his church, serving as the London England mission president for three years and participating in the Provo City Planning commission for seven years.

Lewis passed away in Provo, Utah, on October 20, 2005.

Latter-day Saint missionary in Northern States Mission, 1934-1936; student at Brigham Young University, 1936-1940; executive vice-president of BYU and director of BYU Auxiliary Services, 1952-1979; president of England London Mission, 1979-1981.

Extent

3 boxes (1.5 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Other Finding Aids

A more detailed finding aid is available in print in the repository.

Other Finding Aids

File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/MSS2203.xml

Custodial History

Donated by Ben E. Lewis in 1988. Additional volumes donated by Angus H. Belliston in 2015, and by the Provo City Library in 2016.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Ben E. Lewis; 1988.

Donated; Angus H. Belliston; 2015.

Donated; Provo City Library; 2016.

Appraisal

Utah and American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (20th Century Western & Mormon Manuscripts collection development policy, 5.VII, 2007).

Processing Information

Processed; Brian D. Reeves; March 2000.

Processed; Cory Nimer; October 2021.

Title
Register of Ben E. Lewis personal papers
Status
Completed
Author
Brian D. Reeves
Date
2000 March
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Revision Statements

  • 2009 September 3: GilEADized to correct small errors.
  • 2009 September 3: Updated to DACS and CCLA compliance; Ryan Sagers.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States