Skip to main content

Brigham Young Academy

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1875 - 1903

Administrative History

Brigham Young Academy (1875-1903) was established by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the direction of Brigham Young for the instruction of church members in the area of Provo, Utah.

Brigham Young Academy was the predecessor to Brigham Young University and Brigham Young High School. Brigham Young saw the school as a place where all secular learning should be fused with teachings from the scriptures. Despite steady growth during its early years, the Academy was threatened by a series of financial and physical setbacks. With the help and sacrifice of Abraham O. Smoot, the campus moved in 1891 to new facilities on University Avenue in Provo Utah. The Academy's curriculum strengthened and enrollment grew. In 1903, the name was officially changed to Brigham Young University.

Brigham Young Academy principals included Warren N. Dusenberry (1876), Karl G. Maeser (1876-1892), and Benjamin Cluff (1892-1894). Benjamin Cluff also served as Academy president between 1894 and 1903.

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

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

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)

Provo City Library website, via WWW, Oct. 2, 2012 (Brigham Young Academy; founded in 1876; essentially a high school until 1896, with the founding of the College Dept.)

YFacts History of BYU, via WWW, viewed May 31, 2013 (Brigham Young Academy (1875-1903), Brigham Young saw the school as a place where all secular learning should be fused with teachings from the scriptures, despite steady growth during its early years, the Academy was threatened by a series of financial and physical setbacks, with the help and sacrifice of Abraham O. Smoot, the campus moved in 1891 to new facilities on University Avenue in Provo Utah, the Academy's curriculum strengthened and enrollment grew, 1903 the name was officially changed to Brigham Young University)

Yfacts BYU Presidents, via WWW, viewed Mar. 19, 2013 (Brigham Young Academy principals included Warren N. Dusenberry (1876), Karl G. Maeser (1876-1892), and Benjamin Cluff (1892-1903))

Brigham Young High School History, via WWW, viewed May 31, 2013 (Brigham Young Academy was the predecessor to Brigham Young University and Brigham Young High School)

Found in 16 Collections and/or Records:

Joseph Jeppa Anderson diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1437
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten diaries. Anderson writes about his early life in Lehi, Utah; his activities at Brigham Young Academy; his teaching experiences at Mayfield, Brigham City, and Hanksville, Utah and in Arizona; and his bee keeping business in Idaho and California.

Dates: 1878-1950

Circular

 Digital Record
Identifier: UAP2_F024_p024bottomright

Florence Mary Reynolds Cluff papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230339787]
Identifier: MSS 2546
Scope and Contents

Contains two photocopied letters: one written by Florence Mary Reynolds and the other addressed to Benjamin Cluff, Jr. from one of his students. Also included is a brief biographical sketch of Florence Mary Reynolds.

Dates: 1934-1973

Dedicatory exercises of the Brigham Young Academy Building

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233274882]
Identifier: UA SC 33
Scope and Contents

Contains the description of the dedicatory exercises, and includes the farewell speech given by Karl Maeser.

Dates: 1892

From the halls of memory

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305507]
Identifier: MSS SC 798
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of typescript. Author discusses his family's British roots; their acceptance of Mormonism while living in Birmingham, England, and their immigration to the United States. Tolton also describes his experiences during the Black Hawk War (Utah) and frontier life in Utah. His account goes into great detail about his involvement in territorial and state politics, his business ventures, family life, and his mission to Great Britain for the Mormon Church.

Dates: 1931

General Church Board of Education correspondence, 1888-1901

 Series
Identifier: UA 1094 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains the correspondence of Karl G. Maeser and other members of the Church Board of Education related to the schools of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Correspondence references difficulties related to funding and staffing a large number of schools. Materials date from 1888 to 1901.

Dates: 1888-1901

Lella M. Hoggan papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231012771]
Identifier: UA 383
Scope and Contents

Contains copies of letters from George Brimhall to Lella Hoggan; her expense account and grades for one quarter at Brigham Young Academy; and her life sketch from the Relief Society Magazine.

Dates: 1880-1940

Karl G. Maeser personal correspondence, 1861-1900

 Series
Identifier: UA 1094 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence related to the personal life and projects of Maeser, along with correspondence related to his family. Included are Maeser's correspondence with Brigham Young about the issue of plural marriage and the state of his family. Dates range from 1861 to 1900.

Dates: 1861-1900

Karl G. Maeser correspondence

 Collection — Box 3: [Barcode: 31197232517240]
Identifier: UA 1094
Scope and Contents Contains photocopies, microfilm, and a few original documents of correspondence to and from Karl G. Maeser. Materials cover Maeser's personal life, time as principal of Brigham Young Academy, and time as superintendent of the General Church Board of Education. The correspondence is addressed to many individuals all over the Intermountain West and Mexico concerning education including several presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their counselors. The materials...
Dates: 1861-1901

Parley Pratt Nelson diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2261
Scope and Contents

Collection contains photocopies of two diaries of Parley Pratt Nelson, a student who participated on the Benjamin Cluff Brigham Young Academy Expedition (1899-1900) and served a mission in Southern California for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1901-1903).

Dates: 1900-1903