Brigham Young University. Board of Trustees
Dates
- Existence: 1903-
Administrative History
The Brigham Young University Board of Trustees (est. 1903) is the highest administrative authority for Brigham Young University and acts as the final policy-making body of the University, holding the power to make all rules and regulations necessary for the government, continuance, and maintenance of the University.
The Board of Trustees may perform any action that they feel necessary and proper for the welfare and government of the institution, so long as their actions do not violate the law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the University. As such, the Board of Trustees has power to fill all vacancies in the University and final say in the hiring, promoting and dismissing of University faculty; to set and determine the curriculum to be pursued at the University; to sell or mortgage property; and to locate, change or modify buildings as they see fit.
When the University was created in 1903, it inherited the earlier structure for the Board of Trustees of the Brigham Young Academy. In this form, the Board consisted of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a few General Authorities of the Church, prominent local individuals, and descendants of Brigham Young. In 1939, the Board of Trustees was restructured by Heber J. Grant as part of a movement to streamline the LDS Church's educational programs, and all members of the General Church Board of Education became members of the Board of Trustees. In this form, the Board exists today as the highest authoritative body of the Brigham Young University.
The Board of Trustees is presided over by the sitting President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the following have served as its presidents: Joseph F. Smith (1903-1918), Heber J. Grant (1918-1945), George Albert Smith (1945-1951), David O. McKay (1951-1970), Joseph Fielding Smith (1970-1972), Harold B. Lee (1972-1973), Spencer W. Kimball (1973-1985), Ezra Taft Benson (1985-1994), Howard W. Hunter (1994-1995), Gordon B. Hinckley (1995-2008), Thomas S. Monson (2008-2018), Russell M. Nelson (2018- ).
Citation:
BYU organizational history, via WWW, April 1, 2013 (Brigham Young University Board of Trustees est. 1903, highest administrative authority for Brigham Young University, acts as the final policy-making body of the University, holding the power to make all rules and regulations necessary for the government, continuance, and maintenance of the University, may perform any action necessary and proper for the welfare and government of the institution, so long as their actions do not violate the law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the University, power to fill all vacancies in the University and final say in the hiring, promoting and dismissing of University faculty, set and determine the curriculum to be pursued at the University, sell or mortgage property, and to locate, change or modify buildings as they see fit, inherited the structure for the Board of Trustees of the Brigham Young Academy, consisted of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a few General Authorities of the Church, prominent local individuals, and descendants of Brigham Young, in 1939 the Board of Trustees was restructured by Heber J. Grant as part of a movement to streamline the LDS Church's educational programs and all members of the General Church Board of Education became members of the Board of Trustees, the Board exists today as the highest authoritative body of the Brigham Young University, presided over by the sitting President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph F. Smith (1903-1918), Heber J. Grant (1918-1945), George Albert Smith (1945-1951), David O. McKay (1951-1970), Joseph Fielding Smith (1970-1972), Harold B. Lee (1972-1973), Spencer W. Kimball (1973-1985), Ezra Taft Benson (1985-1994), Howard W. Hunter (1994-1995), Gordon B. Hinckley (1995-2008), Thomas S. Monson (2008-2018), Russell M. Nelson (2018- ))Found in 33 Collections and/or Records:
Brigham Young University minutes
Thirty-four bound volumes of meeting minutes from 1875-1974. Includes minutes for the Church Board of Education (1954-1970), Executive Committee of the Church Board of Education (1954-1970), Brigham Young University Board of Trustees (1875-1970), Executive Committee of the Brigham Young University Board of Trustees (1891-1970), BYU Presidency (1954-1958), Administrative Council (1958-1959), BYU Athletic Advisory Council (1945-1974), and Brigham Young Second Stake (1964-1972).
Brigham Young University records
Collection includes copies of the Constitution and By-laws of the Class of 1902; graduation program for the Commercial Class 1902; Articles of Incorporation of Brigham Young Academy and Brigham Young University, 1896-1903.
Brigham Young University souvenir album
Momento of the twenty-eighth year, containing half tone photographs of the members of the Board of Trustees, most members of the present faculty and a few of the leading graduates, August 1904.
BYU Women photographs
Contains pages, originally from a scrapbook, with photographs of female members of the Brigham Young University (BYU) faculty and Board of Trustees, wives of male faculty and trustees, and other prominent women on BYU campus. Dated 1915 to 1965.
Campus photograph albums
Originally bound in four volumes, images show Brigham Young University buildings, students, faculty, trustees, and campus life. The volume dealing with students was compiled by Mrs. Fletcher Eyring. Sources for the images include campus yearbooks and Wayne B. Hales. Includes views of Aspen Grove, the Alpine Summer School, and the Timpanogos Hike. Some images are original prints, others are reprints, and still others are from yearbooks and other published sources.
Changes in personnel of Board of Trustees
Financial Services records
Contains annual financial reports and estimates of expenses including teachers' salaries and departmental budgets, real estate sales, statements from Knight Trust and Savings Bank, and correspondence concerning financial affairs between the Office of the President of Brigham Young University, the Brigham Young University Board of Trustees and the Latter-day Saints Church Commission of Education. Includes 47 items.
General Church Board of Education records
Contains records, including tape transcripts of Franklin L. West's narrative of the "history of the department of education of the LDS Church," relating to Brigham Young University, LDS Business College, and the Juarez and Kelsey academies. Also includes correspondence on candidates for Brigham Young University president. Dated approximately 1936 to 1966.
General Church Board of Education records
Contains administrative codes, regulations, minutes of executive meetings and charts concerning the Church Education System and its relationship to Brigham Young University, and listings of Church positions held by Brigham Young University staff members (17 items). Materials date from between 1938 and 1943.
Indices to the Board of Trustees minutes
Contains indices of minutes for various boards and committees tied to the administration of Brigham Young University. Includes index cards with information concerning administrative matters as well as information concerning individuals. Dates range from 1919 to 1988.