Skip to main content

Brigham Young University

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1903-

Administrative History

Brigham Young University (1903- ) is a university sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Provo, Utah.

Brigham Young University was established in 1903 in a renaming of Brigham Young Academy. 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- ).

Brigham Young University is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of the Church Educational System (CES). The university is governed by a Board of Trustees, which, since 1939, has consisted of the First Presidency of the Church as well as other General Authorities or general officers of the Church appointed by the First Presidency. The Board of Trustees provides general direction and oversees the formulation of broad policies as well as the approval of all executive leadership and faculty appointments at the university. 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. The President serves as the chief executive officer and general manager of the University. Between 1996 and 2014, the President of the university was also been a General Authority of the Church.

Brigham Young University has grown from a small academy to one of the world's largest private universities. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU offers a unique educational environment that promotes learning by study and also by faith.

Citation:
Its Annual catalog, 1907/08.

BYU--national champions, 1985: intro. (Brigham Young University)

The Journal of pedagogy, Feb. 1895: t.p. (Brigham Young Academy)

History of BYU (within Brigham Young University website), via WWW, 4 November 2010 (Brigham Young Academy established October 16, 1875 in Provo, Utah. Name changed to Brigham Young University in 1903. Sponsored by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, associated with BYU-Hawaii in Laie, Hawaii; BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho; and LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah)

Brigham Young University Organizational History website, via WWW, Mar. 2, 2011 (Brigham Young University; est. 1903; name change from Brigham Young Academy; 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), Cecil O. Samuelson (2003-2014), and Kevin J. Worthen (2014- ); owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; governed by a board of trustees)

Brigham Young University website, via WWW, June 22, 2023 (C. Shane Reese; appointed president of Brigham Young University, May 1, 2023)

Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:

Mark K. Allen papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2031
Scope and Contents Contains correspondence, personal and professional papers, printed materials, photographs, and newspaper clippings of Brigham Young University professor of psychology, Mark K. Allen, his mother, Inez Knight Allen, and his grandfather who was a Utah businessman and financier, Jesse Knight. Allen's papers include professional records dealing with the tenure and chairmanship of the Psychology Department at BYU (1946-1975). Papers also deal with Allen as a student and his faculty years at BYU,...
Dates: 1907-1985

Centennial Committee records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 1124
Scope and Contents Contains a wide variety of documentation produced and collected by the Centennial Committee. This includes memorandums, meeting minutes, correspondence, publications, photographs, and other materials. These files contain information on most of the events that happened during the Centennial year, as well as various buttons and banners. A significant portion of the collection relates directly to the production of Brigham!, a musical dramatizing the founding and growth of Brigham Young...
Dates: 1973-1976

Paul R. Cheesman papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2049
Scope and Contents Contains manuscripts (personal and professional papers), publisher's gallery prints, color transparencies (including 35 mm slides), negatives, color separations, photographs, personal literary materials, research and reference files, audio and visual materials, and historical books, covering over 30 years of research in the ancient Americas, other ancient civilizations, and history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A vast majority of the materials in this collection involve...
Dates: approximately 1945-1991

Samuel Frederick Curtis papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9035
Scope and Contents Materials include journals, letters, notebooks, photographs, negatives, and audiocassettes of Samuel Frederick "Fred" Curtis and his wife Emmeline Curtis. Topics of materials include Fred's mission in Germany and the mission Samuel and Emmeline later served in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, both for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, their family of six children, and Fred's work at and donations to Brigham Young University. Some photographs depict military camps and activities aboard...
Dates: approximately 1930-2017

G. Robert Ruff printed ephemera, 1912-2011

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9407 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains a variety of printed materials collected by G. Robert Ruff, including Brigham Young University campus newspapers, a BYU student's handbook, programs from campus activities, a brochure listing fallen BYU military personnel annotated by Ruff, a BYU staff directory, and other campus publications. Dated 1912 to 2011.

Dates: 1912-2011

C. Lynn Hayward papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5308
Scope and Contents

Contains research and teaching materials, comprised mainly of Hayward's field notes and personal research. It also contains Hayward's personal correspondence.

Dates: approximately 1930-1978

Other professional papers of W. Cleon Skousen, 1911-2005

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9364 Series 4 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents Contains papers created or collected by W. Cleon Skousen throughout his various professional activities. Includes research files of clippings, publications, overhead transparencies, curriculum, lecture and educational materials, proposals for new coalitions, articles, emails, and letters on American history, the U.S. Constitution with or without a religious context, world politics, survivalism, conspiracy theories, political candidates, family studies, monetary policy, nuclear warfare,...
Dates: 1911-2005

Alma Richards papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 310
Scope and Contents

Collection includes photocopies of correspondence, newsclippings, scrapbooks, and certificates of Richards' athletic career. Also includes original photographs and negatives.

Dates: 1919-1972

G. Robert Ruff papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 9407
Scope and Contents Contains correspondence, photographs, negatives, printed ephemera, and planning documents produced by G. Robert Ruff. Materials document his work as editor of the Banyan and time as a student athlete at Brigham Young University, his service in the United States Army Air Corps, his career with David W. Evans Inc., his work to establish a school of communications at BYU, and his participation in the BYU Alumni Association. Also includes a collection of digitized family history materials about...
Dates: approximately 1912-2020; Majority of material found within 1940-2020

Young Company records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 1024
Scope and Contents

Collection documents the history of the Whittlin' Whistlin' Brigade's and The Young Company's history at Brigham Young University as well as the history of Harold R. Oaks, director of the company. Materials include photographs, calendars, posters, film, audio, and play scripts from 1961 to 2002.

Dates: 1961-2002