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Brigham Young University. English Department

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1920-

Administrative History

The English Department (est. 1920) is an academic unit at Brigham Young University.

The Department of English includes classes of rhetoric and composition, advanced composition, short story writing, news writing, advanced narration, teacher's course in grammar, Anglo-Saxon, philology, Chaucer, Shakespeare's tragedies, Shakespeare's comedies, Milton, love and the light, the history and development of the English novel, the Romantic poets, modern continental European drama, modern British drama, the English modern novel, the American modern novel, Tennyson's minor poems, Tennyson's major poems, and Browning.

The Department of English was a part of the Church Teachers College until the college was split in 1920. The department was placed under the direction of the School of Arts and Sciences. The department was transferred in 1921 when the School of Arts and Sciences to the renamed the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1954 the department was transferred to the newly established College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and later in 1965 to the College of Humanities. Department chairs included Alfred Osmond (1920-1923), Parley A. Christensen (1923-1954), Leonard W. Rice (1955-1958), Ralph A. Britsch (1958-1960), Bruce B. Clark (1960-1966), Dale H. West (1966-1973), Marshall R. Craig (1973-1975), Richard H. Cracroft (1975-1981), John B. Harris (1981-1986), William A. Wilson (1986-1992), Neal E. Lambert (1992-1996), C. Jay Fox (1996-1999), John S. Tanner (1999-2004), Edward A. Geary (2004-2006), Gregory D. Clark (2006-2007), and Edward S. Cutler (2007-).

Citation:
Organizational History Project, Januarty 14, 2013 (Dept. of English; est. 1965; rhetoric and composition, advanced composition, short story writing, news writing, advanced narration, teacher's course in grammar, Anglo-Saxon, philology, Chaucer, Shakespeare's tragedies, Shakespeare's comedies, Milton, love and the light, the history and development of the English novel, the Romantic poets, modern continental European drama, modern British drama, the English modern novel, the American modern novel, Tennyson's minor poems, Tennyson's major poems, and Browning; Church Teachers College, 1920; School of Arts and Sciences, 1921; College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 1954; Department chairs.

Found in 38 Collections and/or Records:

Harold S. Madsen professional papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7572
Scope and Contents

Contains eight cartons of professional papers regarding his time as a Professor of both English and Linguistics at Brigham Young University. Includes syllabi, papers, handbooks and various other materials dating 1960-1988.

Dates: 1960-1988

Memorandums, 1953-1972

 Sub-Series — Box 6: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197235223671], Folder: 6
Identifier: UA 573 Series 1 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents note

Contains the proposal for a Doctorate Program, memo from Robert K. Thomas citing opinion of President Wilkinson.

Dates: 1953-1972

Harrison R. Merrill papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 132
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, essays, and clippings (photocopies) to and from Merrill concerning his publications in newspapers and periodicals, the Alpine Summer School, Brigham Young University athletics, curricula and religious atmosphere, 1924-1929.

Dates: 1924-1929

Don E. Norton papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8779
Scope and Contents

Collection of letters, reminiscent accounts, memos, clippings, and other materials on the history of the Brigham Young University English Department, including discussion of feminism. Materials dated 1990-2015.

Dates: 1990-2015

Oral history interview with Dale H. West

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 146
Scope and Contents

Interview conducted by Richard Poll as part of the Brigham Young University Archives Joint Oral History Project of the Brigham Young University Alumni Association Emeritus Club on April 29, 1988. West describes why he chose to teach English at BYU. He gives an account of his employment with the BYU English Department and describes different aspects of his career including the people who were influential in his professional life. Includes transcript and sound recording.

Dates: 1988

Oral history interview with J. J. Keeler

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2122
Scope and Contents

Includes memories of his grandfather, J. Marinus Jensen, who was a professor in the English Department at Brigham Young University, 1910-1945. Includes information on Jensen's personal and professional life.

Dates: 1992 January 2

Ralph A. Britsch and Leonard W. Rice departmental records, 1953-1970

 Sub-Series — Box 7: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197235223689], Folder: 1-8
Identifier: UA 573 Series 1 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains English Department business, financial records and budgets, and faculty listing.

Dates: 1953-1970

Videos on Blackboard and English 115 redesign

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225548046]
Identifier: UA 1318
Scope and Contents

Compact disc containing videos discussing the use of Blackboard at Brigham Young University and the redesign of the English 115 course to include technological elements.

Dates: 2002

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English language -- Study and teaching -- Utah -- Provo -- History 17
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Memorandums 10
English 5
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English language -- Study and teaching -- Utah -- Provo 2
Notes 2
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Scrapbooks 2
Anthropology -- Study and teaching -- Utah -- Provo 1
Audiotapes 1
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Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho) 1
College teachers -- Utah -- Provo 1
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Compact discs 1
Courses and lectures 1
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Feminism -- Utah 1
Financial records 1
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