Skip to main content

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 11 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 A. C. Lambert, 1959-1961

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 47
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and representatives of the California State Department of Education. Also contains a report written by Dr. A.C. Lambert of Los Angeles State College. Dated 1959 to 1961.

Dates: 1959-1961

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 associations, 1955-1960

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains newsletters and reports from various national and Utah academic associations and their conferences. Also contains correspondence concerning relations and dealings with associations. Dated 1955 to 1960.

Dates: 1955-1960

Office of the President records on Indian Program, 1949-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 24
Scope and Contents

Contains correpondence, memos and reports detailing the establishment of the BYU Indian Education Program, dated between 1949 to 1955.

Dates: 1949-1956

Office of the President records on J. Bracken Lee, 1953-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 30
Scope and Contents

Contains news clippings, letters, memorandums and reports from 1953 to 1956 concerning Utah Governor Joseph Bracken Lee.

Dates: 1953-1956

Office of the President records on junior colleges, 1949-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 28
Scope and Contents

Contains histories, articles, reports and correspondence pertaining to junior colleges in Utah between 1949 to 1955. The majority of the correspondence and articles are opinions about the possibility of several of these colleges being transferred to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dates: 1949-1955

Office of the President records on statistics, 1952-1954

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 54
Scope and Contents

Contains reports and statistics on higher education, Utah schools, and marriage, dated between 1952 to 1954.

Dates: 1952-1954

Office of the President records on universities, 1939-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 66
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memorandums, reports and assorted other materials concerning universities. Contains materials which compare and contrast programs and enrollment of the University of Utah, Utah State Agricultural College, and BYU. Also includes reports from the Utah legislative Council which describe higher education in Utah. Dated 1939 to 1956.

Dates: 1939-1956