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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 28 Collections and/or Records:

College of Fine Arts and Communications salary records, 1959-1971

 Sub-Series — Box 34: Series 4 [Barcode: 31197231242550], Folder: 1-13
Identifier: UA 567 Series 4 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains administrative files, including correspondence and memorandums, budgets, faculty salary lists, graduate student contracts, and summaries, by department.

Dates: 1959-1971

Gerrit and Thelma de Jong papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 6815
Scope and Contents

Contains bound volumes of materials written or collected by Gerrit and Thelma de Jong from 1972-1979.

Dates: 1972-1979

Gerrit de Jong papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1837
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, musical scores, essays, and speeches, mainly on religious topics, dated 1949 to 1980. Correspondence pertains to the publication of de Jong's book, Eternal Progress. Also includes a ledger de Jong kept from 1915 to 1918 to track payments received from students for music lessons.

Dates: 1915-1980; Majority of material found within 1949-1980

Gerrit de Jong papers

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233275749]
Identifier: UA 286
Scope and Contents

Typewritten report to Ernest L. Wilkinson concerning the participation of Brigham Young University musical groups in the dedicatory services of the Mormon Memorial Cemetery and Mormon Bridge in Omaha, Nebraska.

Dates: 1953

Gerrit de Jong professional papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 722
Scope and Contents

Includes professional correspondence, publications, teaching materials, speeches, and musical drafts and publications.

Dates: 1950-1970

Gerrit de Jong writings

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231234482]
Identifier: UA 1167
Scope and Contents

Contains miscellaneous writings (including articles, papers for classes at the University of Utah, and addresses) of Gerrit de Jong.

Dates: 1924-1977

Department of Languages textbook

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239250829]
Identifier: UA 5763
Scope and Contents

Contains a Portuguese textbook produced by Department of Languages professor Gerrit De Jong for class instruction. Includes short stories and essays on various academic topics. Also includes some poetry and reading comprehension questions based on the text materials. Materials dated 1960.

Dates: 1960

Oral history interview with Gerrit de Jong

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 33
Scope and Contents

Interview by Mark K. Allen with Gerrit de Jong Jr., Brigham Young University dean and professor. reflections of his childhood and teaching experiences at the Murdock Academy and BYU. He discusses his role in organizing the College of Fine Arts, and his associations with faculty and administrators. Includes sound recording and transcript.

Dates: 1978

Oral history interview with Thomas E. Cheney

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 46
Scope and Contents

Interview by J. Roman Andrus with Tom Cheney, Brigham Young University English professor, concerning his teaching experience, his relationship with the faculty and administration, and his paper concerning African Americans and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and subsequent controversy. Includes sound recording and transcript.

Dates: 1979