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Maeser, Karl G.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1828 - 1901

Biographical History

Karl G. Maeser (1828-1901) was a well-renowned educator and principal in Utah, particularly respected for his integral role in establishing the theme and focus of Brigham Young Academy.

Maeser was born in Saxony, Germany in January 1828. Maeser went to school in Germany and gained training in teaching. He worked as a teacher and private tutor in and around Germany. Karl G. Maeser married Anna Mieth in 1854. Maeser was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1855. He left Germany in 1856 for the United States and arrived in Utah in 1860.

Karl G. Maeser was the second principal of Brigham Young Academy and served from 1876 until 1892. Under Maeser, Brigham Young Academy established itself as one of the leading schools in Utah territory. Maeser placed the development of character above the development of intellect. In matters of morals and religious conduct, he saw things as black and white. He devised for Brigham Young Academy an intricate system of rules, regulations, and academic routine all designed to form habits of proper conduct.

In 1888 Maeser was made the first General Superintendent of Church Schools as part of the General Board of Education of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Maeser Published a book entitled "School and Fireside" in 1898 which reflected his views on education. He died in February 1901.

Citation:
Cundick, R. The brothers, c1986: t.p. (a musical play in one act based on the life of Karl G. Maeser)

Sunday school work, 1892: t.p. (Karl G. Maeser)

Online Utah, via WWW, July 14, 2004 (Karl Gottfried Maeser; the first principal of Brigham Young Univ. [i.e. Brigham Young Academy] and general superintendent of the LDS Church school system; b. 16 Jan. 1828 in Saxony, Germany; d. 15 Feb. 1901)

OCLC, March 19, 2004 (hdg.: Maeser, Karl Gottfried, 1828-1901; usage: Karl G. Maeser)

Wikipedia, via WWW, Sept. 30, 2013 (Karl G. Maeser; Karl Gottfried Maeser; b. Jan. 16, 1828 in Meissen, Germany; d. Feb. 15, 1901 in Salt Lake City, Utah; Utah educator; member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; m. 1854 to Anna Mieth; served as missionary in England, Scotland, Penn., Switzerland, Calif.; m. 1875 to Emilie Damke)

Utah History Encyclopedia, via WWW, viewed Mar. 20, 2013 (Karl G. Maeser, b. Jan 1928 Saxony Germany, d. Feb 1901, schooling in Germany, taught and tutored in Germany, m. Anna Mieth 1854, baptized LDS 1855, left Germany 1856, arrived in Utah 1860, second principal of BYA 1876-1892, 1888 General Superintendent of Church Schools-General Board of Education of the LDS church, School and Fireside 1898)

Office of the President, viewed Mar. 20, 2013 (Karl G. Maeser, BYA leading schools in Utah territory, development of character over intellect, moral and religious conduct viewed as black and white, devised system of rules regulations and routine for proper conduct at BYA)

Found in 42 Collections and/or Records:

Oral history interview with Beatrice Maeser Mitchell

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 38
Scope and Contents

Interview by Hollis Scott with Beatrice M. Mitchell, regarding her grandfather Karl G. Maeser, her father Reinhard Maeser, and herself. Includes transcript and sound recording.

Dates: 1980

Oral history interview with Evelyn Crandall

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 64
Scope and Contents

Collection of four separate monologues by Eva Maeser Crandall discussing her father and her mother, Anna Mieth, the Academy and school life, and her poem, "Karl G. Maeser." Includes transcripts of the original recordings.

Dates: 1961-1964

Oral history interview with Evelyn Crandall

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 63
Scope and Contents

Interview by Hollis Scott with Eva Maeser Crandall, concerning her father, Karl G. Maeser, her childhood in Provo, her memories of Brigham Young Academy, students and faculty of Brigham Young Academy. Includes transcript and sound recordings.

Dates: 1964

Oral history interview with Sarah Fletcher Jones

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233265377]
Identifier: UA OH 3
Scope and Contents

Interview by Hollis Scott with Sarah F. Jones, concerning her experiences at the Brigham Young Academy in the 1880s and as a resident of Provo, Utah. Includes transcript and sound recording.

Dates: 1965

Photographs of Brigham Young University

 Collection — Oversize 1: [Barcode: 31197218624010]
Identifier: MSS 3799
Scope and Contents

Collection includes forty-two photographs of buildings on the campus of Brigham Young University, as well as a few photographs of its founders, Mormon leaders, and other scenes from around Provo, Utah. The range of years which the photographs cover clearly shows the development of the BYU campus over time. Some of the photos are of suggested campus development plans from the years 1948 and 1956. The collection also includes a campus map from 1961.

Dates: approximately 1896-1980

Photographs of university trustees

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 830
Scope and Contents

Contains thirty-nine black-and-white photographs of presidents of the Board of Trustees of Brigham Young Academy and University; also views of chairmen of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of BYU. Also includes view of Karl G. Maeser's wife, Anna.

Dates: 1875-1975

Reminiscences of Brigham Young Academy

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231243863]
Identifier: UA 594
Scope and Contents

Contains an article on the origin of the Music department by Susa Young Gates; recollections of teaching in the Primary department by Anna Smoot Taylor; a brief overview of the Ladies Work department by Jennie Tanner; and a tribute to A. O. Smoot (authorship unknown).

Dates: Publication: 1892

A. LeGrand Richards collection on Karl G. Maeser

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230356351]
Identifier: MSS 7501
Scope and Contents

Collection contains photocopies, transcripts, and translations of German articles pertaining to Karl G. Maeser collected by A. LeGrand Richards. The articles pertain to the associations Maeser had with teaching organizations and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1851 to 1856 in Germany.

Dates: 2009; 1851-1856

A. LeGrand Richards collection on Karl G. Maeser

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233624839]
Identifier: UA 5629
Scope and Contents

Contains photocopies made of German documents, approximately 1850-1860, related to Karl G. Maeser.

Dates: 1850-1852

Talk by Edith Krause at the dedication of the Karl G. Maeser statue in Dresden, 14 July 2001

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232572757]
Identifier: UA 5704
Scope and Contents

Text of a talk about Maeser family history, which was given at the dedication of the Karl G. Maeser statue in Dresden. Dated July 14, 2001.

Dates: 2001 July 14