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 291 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on sex education, 1953-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 52
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, memorandums and proposed curriculum for sex education in schools. Also contains a survey regarding sexual practices of men and women inside and outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1953-1955.

Dates: 1953-1955
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 Social Security, 1952

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 53
Scope and Contents

Contains ballots from a vote on the retirement plan at BYU as well as reports detailing the BYU retirement policies, dated 1952.

Dates: 1952
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 Standards Committee, 1963-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 71
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and reports from the BYU standards comittee detailing student offenses and actions taken by BYU. ated 1963-1964.

Dates: 1963-1964
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 state institutions, 1961-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 70
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters, reports and news clippings about the need for school facilities. Dated 1961 to 1962.

Dates: 1961-1962
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 state institutions, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 69
Scope and Contents

Contains clippings as well as letters and reports from a special committee on school finances to the Board of Governors in Salt Lake City about university funds. 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 Student Personnel Services, 1951-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 60
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and memorandums describing a variety of special student cricumstances. The materials describe crimes by students, transfer student situations and G.I. bills for Korean veterans. Dated 1951 to 1955.

Dates: 1951-1955
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 students, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 56
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums, correspondence, reports and other publications, dated between 1951 and 1956. The materials regard personal problems of individual students such as mission deferments, mortality and counseling. Also contains recruitment materials for high schools and colleges.

Dates: 1951-1956
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 students, 1958-1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 29
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between BYU faculty discussing the circumstances of individual students. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1958-1959
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 students, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 72
Scope and Contents

Contains reports, letters and memos. The topics included student life and societies, trends of student behavior, and individual student problems. 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 studies, 1957-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 73
Scope and Contents

Contains memos from President Wilkinson as well as statistical reports on church membership and the US Utah census. Dated 1957 to 1962.

Dates: 1957-1962
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.