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De Jong, Gerrit, 1892-1978

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1892 - 1978

Biographical History

Gerrit De Jong (1892-1978) was an educator, administrator, linguist, and musician.

Gerrit de Jong Jr. was born to Gerrit de Jong and Lyda Marianna Kuiper in Amsterdam, Netherlands on March 20, 1892. He immigrated to Utah in the United States with his family when he was 14 years old. De Jong married Rosabelle Winegar on September 14, 1911, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Together they had three children. He earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a master's degree in French from the University of Utah. He also earned a doctorate degree in German with a minor in romantic languages from Stanford University. He later researched in the Bavarian University in Munich, Germany. He was fluent in English and Portuguese and also learned Chinese. In 1947, the United States State Department asked him to direct its cultural center in Santos, Brazil, where he served for the academic year 1947–1948. He lectured and wrote in six languages. He also taught piano and organ and composed music in all forms. After his wife Rosabelle died, De Jong married Thelma Oneta Bonham on September 28, 1951 in Salt Lake City, Utah. De Jong was the first dean of Brigham Young University's College of Fine Arts, which was established in 1925, and was the first college of fine arts west of the Mississippi. De Jong served as the dean of the College until 1960, and during his tenure he impacted the lives of hundreds of students. He died on September 26, 1978, in Provo, Utah. The De Jong Concert Hall at Brigham Young University is named in his honor.

Citation:
UPB files, Apr. 8, 2019 (Gerrit de Jong Filho)

BYU Special Collections Blog, via WWW, Apr. 8, 2019 (Gerrit de Jong Jr.; first dean of BYU's College of Fine Arts; BYU College of Fine Arts est. 1925 as first college of fine arts west of the Mississippi; De Jong dean until 1960; impacted the lives of hundreds of students during his tenure)

Wikipedia, via WWW, Apr. 8, 2019 (Gerrit de Jong Jr.; De Jong Concert Hall at BYU named in his honor)

FamilySearch, via WWW, Apr. 8, 2019 (Gerrit de Jong Jr.; b. Mar. 20, 1892 in Amsterdam, Netherlands; p. Gerrit de Jong and Lyda Marianna Kuiper; immigrated to the United States; m. Rosabelle Winegar on Sep. 14, 1911 in Salt Lake City, UT; three children with Rosabelle; Rosabelle d. 1940; m. Thelma Oneta Bonham on Sep. 28, 1951 in Salt Lake City, UT; d. Sep. 26, 1978 in Provo, UT)

MormonWiki, via WWW, Apr. 8, 2019 (Gerrit de Jong Jr.; immigrated to UT, USA with his family at 14; bachelor's degree in Spanish and master's degree in French from University of Utah; doctorate degree in German with a minor in romantic languages from Stanford; researched in the Bavarian University in Munich; fluent in English and Portuguese; learned Chinese; US State Department asked him to direct cultural center in Santos, Brazil 1947-1948; lectured and wrote in six languages; taught piano and organ; composed music in all forms)

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Photograph of Gerrit de Jong

 Digital Record
Identifier: UAP2_F101_p101topleft