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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 291 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1957-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 16
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and correspondence with President Wilkinson discussing Church institutes and seminaries, major programs and BYU and Ricks College, and various Church schools and proposed schools around the world. Dated 1957 to 1963.

Dates: 1957-1963

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1955-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 21
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports about parts of the Church School System, including colleges, seminaries, and institutes. Dated 1955 to 1963.

Dates: 1955-1963

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

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 8
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 1967.

Dates: 1967

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

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

Office of the President records on civil defense, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 22
Scope and Contents

Contains memos between President Wilkinson about civil defense. Topics include fall-out shelters and welfare. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

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

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

Office of the President records on colleges and departments, 1963-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports and other materials regarding the operations and curriculum for various BYU colleges. These were sent between President Wilkinson and staff of various departments. Dated 1963 to 1964.

Dates: 1963-1964