Skip to main content

Brigham Young University. College of Religious Instruction

 Organization

Administrative History

The College of Religious Instruction was an administrative unit at Brigham Young University.

The College of Religious Instruction was born in 1959 when the Division of Religion was discontinued due to growth in university enrollment and renamed the College of Religious Instruction. As university enrollment grew, religious class enrollment grew, as every student was required to engage in a religious class each semester. The following individuals served as deans of the college: David H. Yarn, Jr. (1959-1963), B. West Belnap (1964-1967), Daniel H. Ludlow (1968-1971), and Roy W. Doxey (1972-1973).

The College of Religious Instruction had a fundamental role in properly integrating religious and moral values with secular knowledge. With the requirement of religious course enrollment each semester, individuals at Brigham Young University had the opportunity of establishing his or her life on a stable ethical and religious basis. Despite its college structure, the College of Religious Instruction did not grant degrees, neither graduate nor undergraduate.

Theological classes became part of the College of Religious Instruction at its establishment in 1959. Beginning in 1961, the faculty of the College of Religious Instruction instituted a new class requirement for incoming freshman, that of a Book of Mormon course.

A Reading Committee on Publication of Theological Material existed at least in 1963 under the chairmanship of William E. Berret. It was discontinued by 1968.

The following departments were a part of the College of Religious Instruction from 1959 to 1964: Bible and Modern Scripture, Biblical Languages, L.D.S. Theology Church Organization and Administration, History and Philosophy of Religion, and Religious Education. These were replaced by the Dept. of Undergraduate Studies in Religious Instruction and the Dept. of Graduate Studies in Religious Instruction in 1964. Three new departments were organized in 1969, replacing the previous two, which included the Department of Ancient Scriptures, the Department of Church History and Doctrine, and the Department of Philosophy.

Citation:
Religious Instruction records, 1965-1979 (College of Religious Instruction)

Brigham Young University, L. Tom Perry Special Collections worksheet, Apr. 13, 2009 (College of Religious Instruction; previously known as Division of Religion)

Brigham Young University, 1975: v. 2, p. 184 (Division of Religion renamed College of Religious Instruction in 1959; granted master's and doctor's degrees in religion) v. 2, p. 187 (College of Religion) v. 2, p. 193 (reorganized and renamed Religious Instruction in 1973; lost college status)

Found in 24 Collections and/or Records:

College of Religious Instruction acting dean correspondence, 1967-1971

 Sub-Series — Box 17: Series 3; Series 4 [Barcode: 31197239119438], Folder: 9
Identifier: UA 584 Series 3 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence produced by acting dean Roy W. Doxey in the dean's office. Materials date from between 1967 and 1971.

Dates: 1967-1971

College of Religious Instruction bulletins, handouts, and other material, 1937-1971

 Sub-Series — Box 20: Series 6 [Barcode: 31197231242741]
Identifier: UA 584 Series 6 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains course descriptions and samplings, speeches, department proposals and recomendatations and miscellaneous printed material. Dated from between 1937 and 1971.

Dates: 1937-1971

College of Religious Instruction dean correspondence, 1958-1971

 Series
Identifier: UA 584 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence from the dean's office, including materials from David H. Yarn, B. West Belnap, and Roy W. Doxey. Materials date from between 1958 and 1971.

Dates: 1958-1971

College of Religious Instruction dean correspondence, 1958-1963

 Sub-Series — Box 17: Series 3; Series 4 [Barcode: 31197239119438], Folder: 1-4
Identifier: UA 584 Series 3 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence produced by David H. Yarn in the dean's office. Materials date from between 1958 and 1963.

Dates: 1958-1963

College of Religious Instruction dean correspondence, 1962-1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 584 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence produced by B. West Belnap in the dean's office. Materials date from between 1962 and 1966.

Dates: 1962-1966

College of Religious Instruction dean records, 1951-1973

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 584 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains materials produced by the dean's office, including correspondence (notably with Ernest L Wilkinson), speeches, brocures, newsletters and other publications, policies, memos, meeting minutes, stake conference visit notes, talks, and reports. Materials produced by B. West Belnap, Daniel Ludlow, David Yarn, and Roy Doxey. Dated from between 1951 and 1973.

Dates: 1951-1973

College of Religious Instruction dean records, 1958-1973

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 584 Series 9
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, memos, reports, meeting minutes, recommendations, and miscellaneous publications produced by Daniel H. Ludlow and Roy W. Doxey in the dean's office. Materials date from between 1958 and 1973.

Dates: 1958-1973

College of Religious Instruction dean records on general procedures, 1960-1971

 Series — Box 18: Series 4; Series 5 [Barcode: 31197231242972], Folder: 5-11
Identifier: UA 584 Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains policies and procedures for the faculty of the College of Religious Instruction and Department of Philosophy guidelines. Materials date from between 1960 and 1971.

Dates: 1960-1971

College of Religious Instruction meeting minutes, 1958-1971

 Series — Box 16: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197231242931]
Identifier: UA 584 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains minutes for departmental chair meetings in the College of Religious Instruction, as well as other meetings. Materials date from between 1958 and 1971.

Dates: 1958-1971

College of Religious Instruction meeting minutes, 1971-1976

 Series
Identifier: UA 584 Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains meetings from minutes attended or led by the dean of the College of Religious Instruction. Materials date from between 1971 and 1976.

Dates: 1971-1976