Widtsoe, John Andreas, 1872-1952
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 7 Collections and/or Records:
Albert W. Daw papers
Contains typewritten chapter summaries of The Principles of irrigation practice by John A. Widtsoe. New York: MacMillan, 1914.
Harvey Fletcher correspondence relating to the naming of the Eyring Science Center
Includes guest lists, invitiations, program, and correspondence concerning the naming of the Science Center, lecture halls, and laboratories. Also includes correspondence from the family organizations representing Frederick Buss, Franklin West, Carl Eyring, John Widtsoe, Orson Pratt, Wayne B. Hales, and Charles E. Maw.
Oral history interview with Leah D. Widtsoe
Interview by Hollis Scott with Widtsoe, teacher and author, concerning her reminiscences about her parents, her grandfather Brigham Young; and her husband, John A. Widtsoe. Also recalls her experiences as a student, faculty member, and matron at BYA, 1896-1898; 1905-1907. Gives her views on nutrition and the Word of Wisdom.
Oral history interview with Russel B. Swensen
Oral history interview with Russel Swensen conducted by Dale C. LeCheminant on 24 June 1976 in Provo, Utah.
Report of semi-centennial celebration of the founding of Brigham Young University
Semi-centennial celebration of the Brigham Young University
Includes addresses, prayers, dedication of the Heber J. Grant Library, brief histories of the University and Academy.
John Andreas Widtsoe letters
Handwritten letter dated 1 May 1948 and addressed to T. Earl Pardoe, professor of public speaking and dramatic arts at Brigham Young University. Widtsoe responds to Pardoe's request for biographical information. Widtsoe writes that it was his "experimentation ... that drive me into the desert to establish dry-farming as a safe practice."