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Brimhall, George H. (George Henry), 1853-1932

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1853 - 1932

Biographical History

George H. Brimhall (1852-1932) was a student, teacher, principal, department head, acting president, president, president emeritus, and head of the alumni association at Brigham Young University.

George Henry Brimhall was born in Salt Lake City on December 9, 1852, to George Washington Brimhall and Rachel Ann Mayer. At age eighteen, he attended high school at the Timpanogos Branch of the University of Deseret in nearby Provo taught by Warren and Wilson Dusenberry. He and some friends built a school they named the Young Men's Academy. There Brimhall met Alsina Elizabeth Wilkins, a student at the academy, whom he married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on December 28, 1874. Together, they had six children. In September 1885, Brimhall married a second wife, Flora Robertson, in the Logan Temple. Together, they had eight children.

He gained teacher's certificates and diplomas and was elected superintendent of Utah County Schools and Provo City Schools. In 1891, the BYA Board of Trustees chairman, Abraham O. Smoot, asked Brimhall, to join Brigham Young Academy's teaching staff and head the Normal (teacher training) Department. Brimhall received the degree of Bachelor of Pedagogy and became BYA Alumni Association's first president. He received all of his higher education at BYA or BYU.

In 1898, Brimhall became a member of the General Church Board of Education. From 1900-1902, while Benjamin Cluff Jr. was away, he became acting principal of BYA. In December 1903, he received a letter from Joseph F. Smith asking him to be the president of the newly renamed Brigham Young University. He was inaugurated as BYU's second president on April 16, 1904 with Joseph B. Keller and Edwin S. Hinckley as his counselors.

Brigham Young University underwent a great deal of change under Brimhall's tenure. Student enrollment expanded, the degree of bachelor of pedagogy was replaced by the Bachelor of Arts and a master's degree was offered. In addition, The Banyan, the university's first yearbook was published, the block Y on a mountain above campus had been painted, thirty-seven acres of the upper (present) campus had been acquired, the first honorary degree had been conferred, and two new buildings (the Maeser Memorial Building and the Mechanic Arts Building, now known as the Brimhall Building) had been erected on upper campus.

Brimhall was released as president of BYU in 1921. He remained on campus and continued with his work for Church seminaries and as a member of the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. Brimhall died on July 29, 1932 in Provo, Utah.

Citation:
"George H. Brimhall's Legacy of Service to Brigham Young University", Mary Jane Woodger and Joseph H. Groberg (George H. Brimhall; born 1852 in Salt Lake City on December 9, 1852, to George Washington Brimhall and Rachel Ann Mayer; attended high school at the Timpanogos Branch of the University of Deseret in nearby Provo taught by Warren and Wilson Dusenberry; built a school they named the Young Men’s Academy; met Alsina Elizabeth Wilkins; married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on December 28, 1874; had six children; In September 1885, Brimhall married a second wife, Flora Robertson, in the Logan Temple; had eight children; teacher’s certificates and diplomas; elected superintendent of Utah County Schools and Provo City Schools; In 1891, joined Brigham Young Academy’s teaching staff and headed the Normal (teacher training) Department; received the degree of Bachelor of Pedagogy and became BYA Alumni Association’s first president; received all of his higher education at BYA or BYU; In 1898, Brimhall became a member of the General Church Board of Education; From 1900-1902, while Benjamin Cluff Jr. was away, he became acting principal of BYA; inaugurated as BYU’s second president on April 16, 1904 with Joseph B. Keller and Edwin S. Hinckley as his counselors; Brigham Young University underwent a great deal of change under Brimhall’s tenure. Student enrollment expanded, the degree of bachelor of pedagogy was replaced by the Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree was offered. In addition, The Banyan, the university's first yearbook was published, the block Y on a mountain above campus had been painted, thirty-seven acres of the upper (present) campus had been acquired, the first honorary degree had been conferred, and two new buildings (the Maeser Memorial Building and the Mechanic Arts Building, now known as the Brimhall Building) had been erected on upper campus; Brimhall was released as president of BYU in 1921; He remained on campus and continued with his work for Church seminaries and as a member of the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association; died on July 29, 1932 in Provo, Utah)

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Zina Presendia Young Williams Card papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 1421
Abstract

Correspondence, autobiographical and biographical materials, patriarchal blessings, legal documents, news articles, and miscellaneous items. The materials document the life and career of Card including her affiliation with Brigham Young Academy, the Mormon Church, and various civic organizations. The items also relate to the towns of Cardston, Alberta; Logan, Utah; and Provo, Utah. Also included is correspondence with various Mormon Church leaders and that of her husband, Charles O. Card.

Dates: 1881-1930

Correspondence, 1881-1930

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1421 Series 1
Scope and Contents From the Collection: The Zina Young Williams Card collection is a valuable source of primary materials dealing with the early history of Logan, Utah and Cardston, Alberta, Canada. It also contains some documents related to her life in Provo, Utah and her affiliation with the educational institutions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in that day, particularly the Brigham Young Academy at Provo.The personal correspondence of Zina Young Williams Card covers the period from 1881 to 1930....
Dates: 1881-1930

Daniel Harrington papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197230232784]
Identifier: MSS 714
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, legal papers, mementos, certificates, and family papers. Correspondents include James E. Talmage, George H. Brimhall, and Karl G. Maeser. Also included is a certificate signed by President Ulysses S. Grant.

Dates: 1850-1905

Robert A. Holmes letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230345511]
Identifier: MSS 182
Scope and Contents

Handwritten letters all dated within 1911. One was addrssed to George H. Brimhall, president of Brigham Young University, while the other two were addressed to the editor of the "Improvement Era," a Mormon Church publication. Holmes speculates on the geography of the Book of Mormon and criticises the theories of B. H. Roberts, the Mormon scholar.

Dates: 1911

Newspaper clippings, 1899-1919, 1976 April 2

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1421 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains full newspaper sheets, mainly from newspapers in Utah and Canada. Dated from 1899 to 1919 and April 2, 1976.

Dates: 1899-1919; 1976 April 2

Patriarchal blessings, 1878-1903

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1421 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains serveral patriarchal blessings of Zina Prescinda Young Williams Card. Dated 1878 to 1903, with some undated material.

Dates: 1878-1903

Personal and family papers, 1870-1973

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1421 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains financial records, certificates, programs, local histories, and other family papers. Dated 1870 to 1973.

Dates: 1870-1973