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 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 economy suggestions, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 29
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and proposals of suggestions on how BYU departments could better handle funds, most written by Joseph T. Bentley. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962

Office of the President records on federal aid to education, 1961-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 2 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

This subseries largely consists of letters and memos between university officials and with government officials. They discuss the government, governmental finances, and include quotes/exerpts from speeches. Dated 1961 to 1962.

Dates: 1961-1962

Office of the President records on finances, 1948-1961

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 22
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and reports about budgets and university costs between 1948 to 1961. Specifically concerning federal aid, travel expenses, general budgets, etc.

Dates: 1948-1961

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 Indian program, 1967

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

Cotains letters and memos about students in BYU's Indian Program, scholarships, and education. Also contians a program for A Dawn in the Forest. Dated 1967.

Dates: 1967

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

Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1966-1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 13
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others discussing the physical plant of BYU. Topics include roads, safety, traffic, and more. Includes reports on the construction of new facilities as well as the upkeep of old ones. Dated 1967.

Dates: 1966-1967

Office of the President records on public relations, 1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 14
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports on BYU's public relations and portrayal in the media. Also contains memos and letters between President Wilkinson and leadrship at other schools discussing comapring these universities to BYU. Dated 1967.

Dates: 1967

Office of the President records on research, 1966-1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 15
Scope and Contents

Contains proposals for a BYU research facilities and research projects, articles of incorporation for the Kow-ina Cultural Research Foundation, a contract between BYU and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, and various memos, proposals and reports about research. Dated 1966-1967.

Dates: 1966-1967