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 29 Collections and/or Records:

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 Church School System, 1954-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 2 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains annual budget reports and requests for BYU as well as annual CES reports to the First Presidency. Dated 1954 to 1962.

Dates: 1954-1962

Office of the President records on Continuing Education, 1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 12
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports about off-campus and continuing education opportunities through BYU including satellites campuses, education weeks, and study abroad programs. Dated 1967.

Dates: 1967

Office of the President records on federal aid to education, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 38
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, memorandums, reports and bills on the subject of federal aid to higher education. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on federal aid to education, 1959-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 33
Scope and Contents

Contains letters between President Wilkinson and government leaders in Salt Lake City and the federal govenment on the topic of federal aid, scholarships and grants to BYU. Also contains reports with statistics and facts about financial aid to education. Dated 1959 to 1964.

Dates: 1959-1964

Office of the President records on finances, 1962-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 39
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, reports and memos about BYU finances. Topics include investments, staff salaries, and other expenses. Dated 1962 to 1963.

Dates: 1962-1963

Office of the President records on finances, 1950-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 2 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains financial records, reports, and budgets of the university. Dated 1950 to 1963.

Dates: 1950-1963

Office of the President records on finances, 1950-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 34
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty discussing use of BYU funds. Also contains financial reports on past and future proposed budgets for BYU. Dated 1950 to 1963.

Dates: 1950-1963

Office of the President records on finances, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 20
Scope and Contents

Contains BYU budgets and reports on financial matters. Also contains memos, letters and charts about student tuition. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959

Office of the President records on investments, 1954-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 27
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memorandums and reports concerning tuition, the BYU investment committee, and the use of funds. Dated 1954 to 1958.

Dates: 1954-1958