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Widtsoe, John Andreas, 1872-1952

 Person

Biographical History

John Andreas Widtsoe (1872-1952) served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and worked in agriculture and education during his life.

John Andreas Widtsoe was born January 31, 1872 on the island of Frøya in Norway. He was baptized in 1884 at the age of twelve. In 1888, he immigrated to Utah with his mother and brother. There he married Leah Dunford, a granddaughter of Brigham Young, on June 1, 1898 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had seven children together. John graduated from Harvard University in 1894 and with his Ph.D. from University of Goettingen, Germany, in 1899. He then taught in the agricultural colleges at Utah State University and Brigham Young University. He was president of the Utah Agricultural College from 1907 to 1916 and president of University of Utah in 1916. During World War I he was a member of the Utah State Council of Defense and chairman of the Food Production Committee of Salt Lake City and the Irrigation Committee of the Food Administration. He was called into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1921 and served in that capacity until his death. As part of his work as an apostle, Widstoe wrote “Priesthood and Church Government,” a popular manual about the workings of the priesthood.

He died November 29, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
UPB files; August 7, 2014, (John Andreas Widtsoe was born January 31, 1872 in Norway; He and his widowed mother and brother emigrated to Utah Territory in 1888; married Leah Dunford, a granddaughter of Brigham Young, on June 1, 1898 in Salt Lake City, Utah; graduated from Harvard University in 1894 and with his Ph.D. from University of Goettingen, Germany, in 1899; taught in the agricultural college of Utah State University and in this same department at Brigham Young University; called into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1921; died November 29, 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah).

GApages.com, via WWW, Jan. 22, 2015 (island of Frøya; baptized at age of 12; seven children; president of Utah Agricultural College from 1907 to 1916 and president of University of Utah in 1916; WWI; member of the Utah State Council of Defense and chairman of the Food Production Committee of Salt Lake City and the Irrigation Committee of the Food Administration; wrote “Priesthood and Church Government,” a popular manual about the workings of the priesthood.)

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Church papers, approximately 1917-1967

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1993 Series 1
Scope and Contents This series contains Richards' correspondence and other papers with prominent LDS Church leaders including Heber J. Grant, Joseph F. Smith, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., John A. Widtsoe, David O. MacKay, and Stephen L. Richards. This series spans from circa 1917 to 1967. It icludes two letters, 1938 and 1951, two Title Insurance and Trust Company documents, dated 1949, 1951, correspondence between Preston Richards and J. Reuben Clark, Jr., circa 1917-1949, and correspondence, mostly legal...
Dates: approximately 1917-1967
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 1993, Preston D. Richards papers

Personal papers, 1906-1966

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1993 Series 3
Scope and Contents This series contains correspondence and other papers of Richards' personal life, particularly correspondence with his family, spanning from 1906-1966. It includes correspondence with Paul Richards, circa 1936-1949; correspondence with various people, particularly with family, 1939-1942; and a few letters from J. Reuben Clark, Jr. It also contains a diploma, 1908; correspondence between Wesley G. Howell and Mrs. Preston D. Richards shortly after Preston D. Richard's death (mostly concerning...
Dates: 1906-1966
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 1993, Preston D. Richards papers

Preston D. Richards papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1993
Abstract

The collection consists of papers regarding the life of Preston D. Richards. The collection has correspondence, newspaper clippings, certificates, photographs and other papers. It specifically deals with his life in terms of his business, church, and personal relations. The collection dates 1894-1970.

Dates: 1894-1970
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Preston D. Richards papers

Statement of Lloyd Ririe

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232541364]
Identifier: MSS 442
Scope and Contents Typewritten statement dated April 13, 1945. Ririe writes that he was on a train in Canada with the Mormon apostle, John A. Widtsoe, in 1945. Widtsoe told Ririe that he was present when John Wickersham Woolley, a temple worker for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, admitted that he had not been given authority to perform polygamous marriages after that practice was discontinued by the Church. Also included is a typewritten letter from Widtsoe to Ririe dated November 19, 1945...
Dates: 1945-1964
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Statement of Lloyd Ririe

John Andreas Widtsoe letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230327113]
Identifier: MSS SC 2678
Scope and Contents Typewritten letters addressed to S. Norman Lee and dated 9 Oct. 1947 and 15 Nov. 1949. Widtsoe responds to Lee's questions on the doctrines of the Mormon Chuch. Witsoe writes that the Word of Wisdom prohibition of "hot drinks" means that coffee, tea, cola drinks, and the South American drink called "Mate" are unacceptable because they contain caffeine. He also writes that Blacks will eventually be given the priesthood in the Mormon Church. He further states that the second president of...
Dates: 1947-1949
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John Andreas Widtsoe letters

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