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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 162 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, Church general authorities, and BYU faculty on the topics of Church schools, proposed Church schools, and curriculum within these schools. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on civil defense, 1956-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memorandums concerning the civil defense programs in Utah and at Ricks College, dated 1956 to 1958.

Dates: 1956-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on civil defense, 1959-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 18
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports and brochures planning to create shelters to protect BYU students against fallout from atomic blasts in the event of war. Dated 1959 to 1963.

Dates: 1959-1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on civil rights, 1959-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 19
Scope and Contents

Contains a 1959 report investigating discrimination and relations of minorities in Utah as well as a 1963 newpaper article advocating for the Utah governor to secure equal rights for everyone regardless of race. Dated 1959 to 1963.

Dates: 1959-1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on civil rights, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 23
Scope and Contents

Contains pamphlets, memos and brochures about the Civil Rights Act of 1963. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on colleges and departments, 1946-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 14
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, memos, reports, and various publications related to the administration of departments and colleges on campus. Materials dated 1946 to 1958.

Dates: 1946-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on colleges and departments, 1959-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 24
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports and other materials regarding the operations and curriculum for various BYU colleges. Also contains materials on other university departments such as athletics. These were sent between President Wilkinson and heads of various departments. Dated 1958 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on commencement, 1963-1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 25
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters and other materials relating to BYU commencement. The materials organized the ceremony, speakers, and gave graduation statistics. Dated 1963 to 1965.

Dates: 1963-1965
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on commencement, 1954-1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 13
Scope and Contents

Contains programs, speeches, reports, and correspondence pertaining to BYU commencement. The materials concerned undergraduate and graduate students, valedictorian speeches, and honorary degrees. Dated 1954 to 1959.

Dates: 1954-1959
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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