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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 60 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Summer School, 1951-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 61
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memorandums and informational and promotional brochures concerning scheduling and details for BYU Summer School. Dated 1951 to 1955.

Dates: 1951-1955

Office of the President records on television and radio, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 64
Scope and Contents

Consists of reports, correspondence and memos concerning the television industry. Mainly dealing with the Utah Educational Television Foundation and studies on the effects of televison on education.

Dates: 1951-1956

Office of the President records on tickets, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 32
Scope and Contents

Contains tickets and memos coordinating travel of BYU staff and faculty. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959

Office of the President records on travel, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 76
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos discussing BYU faculty and students' study abroad finances. Also contains a lengthy travel reimbursement report. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President records on travel, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 61
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters describing and arranging proposed travels by BYU faculty and students. Dated 1957 to 1958.

Dates: 1957-1958

Office of the President records on travel, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 33
Scope and Contents

Contains travel schedules of BYU faculty and staff as well as memos and letters coordinating these travel plans. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959

Office of the President records on travel, 1960-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 78
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and finances arranging Ernest L. Wilkinson's and BYU faculty travel as well as correspondence with Murdock Travel Agency and Church Travel Bureau. Dated 1960 to 1962.

Dates: 1960-1962

Office of the President records on universities, 1939-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 66
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memorandums, reports and assorted other materials concerning universities. Contains materials which compare and contrast programs and enrollment of the University of Utah, Utah State Agricultural College, and BYU. Also includes reports from the Utah legislative Council which describe higher education in Utah. Dated 1939 to 1956.

Dates: 1939-1956

Office of the President records on university representative, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 62
Scope and Contents

Contains letters selecting faculty and staff to represent BYU at various conferences. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962

Office of the President speeches, 1951-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 51
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and memos concerning speaking engagements of President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty as well as radio presentations between 1945 to 1956. Date of record keeping 1951 to 1955.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1951-1955