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Brigham Young University. Office of the President

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1903-

Administrative History

The Office of the President (est. 1903) is the central administrative body at Brigham Young University, and is the direction of the university president.

Brigham Young University has had a president since Brigham Young Academy was changed to Brigham Young University in 1903. While the school was still called Brigham Young Academy the head officer was titled principal.

The Board of Trustees delegates to the university president the responsibility to conduct the operations of the institution and administer the policies enacted by the board. Since 1996, the president of the university has also been a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Past and present Brigham Young University presidents include George H. Brimhall (1903-1921), Franklin S. Harris (1921-1945), Howard S. McDonald (1945-1949), (acting president) Christian Jensen (1949-1951), Ernest L. Wilkinson (1951-1971), Dallin H. Oaks (1971-1980), Jeffrey R. Holland (1980-1989), Rex E. Lee (1989-1995), Merrill J. Bateman (1996-2003), Cecil O. Samuelson (2003-2014), Kevin J. Worthen (2014-2023), and C. Shane Reese (2023- ).

Citation:
Office of the President essays, circa 1985-1986

Brigham Young University, L. Tom Perry Special Collections worksheet, Feb. 4, 2010 (Office of the President; administrative office associated with the president of Brigham Young University)

Brigham Young University Web site, Feb. 4, 2010 (Office of the President; President's Office)

BYU Organizational History, Brigham Young University, Feb. 19, 2013 (BYU chief executive/general manager; University President 1903; BYA to BYU; Board of Trustees delegate responsibilities to University President; 1996 General Authority; past/present presidents George H. Brimhall (1903-1921), Franklin S. Harris (1921-1945), Howard S. McDonald (1945-1949), (acting president) Christian Jensen (1949-1951), Ernest L. Wilkinson (1951-1971), Dallin H. Oaks (1971-1980), Jeffrey R. Holland (1980-1989), Rex E. Lee (1989-1995), Merrill J. Bateman (1996-2003), and Cecil O. Samuelson (2003- ))

Found in 28 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President annual reports, 1951-1953

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

University reports divided by departments with departmental needs and statistics of students in specific programs. Submitted job applications also included. Dated 1951 to 1953.

Dates: 1951-1953

Office of the President records, 1949-1956

 Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including staff, faculty, students, finance, and higher education in Utah and the United States. Dates of record keeping from 1949 to 1956.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1949-1956

Office of the President records on Admissions and Records, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Correspondence and reports regarding acceptance of students into BYU. Dated 1951 to 1956.

Dates: 1951-1956

Office of the President records on African Americans, 1954-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 37
Scope and Contents

Correspondence and reports regarding the status of black members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Includes experiences that people are reporting regarding the situations and rights of black people.

Dates: 1954-1955

Office of the President records on alcoholism, 1951-1954

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Correspondence with the State Board of Alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous. The State Board of Alcoholism's newsletters. Includes articles about the effects and use of alcohol. Dated 1951 to 1954.

Dates: 1951-1954

Office of the President records on Auxiliary Services, 1949-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents

Correspondence between BYU administration regarding housing, food services, mail, press, purchasing, and the bookstore. Dated 1949 to 1956.

Dates: 1949-1956

Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1949-1957

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents

Correspondence between Ernest L. Wilkinson and local and general authority Church leaders concerning seminaries, institutes, student wards, events, etc. Dated 1949 to 1957.

Dates: 1949-1957

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1944-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 12
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and reports pertaining to Ricks College, LDS Business College, Juarez Academy and the Brigham Young University schools in the Pacific. Materials discuss finances, enrollment, and the unification of the church school systems. Dated 1944 to 1958.

Dates: 1944-1958

Office of the President records on committees, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 16
Scope and Contents

Contains membership lists, annual reports and correspondence between 1951 to 1956 from various committees at Brigham Young University.

Dates: 1951-1956

Office of the President records on faculty, 1949-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 21
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and documents regarding the Brigham Young University faculty between administration and other departments from 1949 to 1956. It largely discusses promotions, salary, faculty ratings/reviews, new faculty, and retirement.

Dates: 1949-1956