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Sessions, J. Wyley (James Wyley), 1885-1977

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1885 - 1977

Biographical History

J. Wyley Sessions (1885-1977) was an educator and missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah and Idaho.

James Wyley Sessions was born on December 11, 1885 in Marion, Idaho to Harvey and Alice Bryson Sessions. He studied agriculture at Utah State Agricultural College, earning his bachelor's degree in 1911. He married Annie Magdalen Funk on September 17, 1913 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and they had three children together. In 1917, Sessions took a position as professor of agriculture at the University of Idaho, Southern Branch. However, in 1919 he was called to service as a mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in South Africa between 1920 and 1926.

Upon his return, Sessions was sent to establish the institute program at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. He was transferred to the University of Idaho, Southern Branch in 1930, then to the University of Wyoming in 1935. In 1936 he was called to be the director of the Missionary Training School in Salt Lake City, Utah before returning to the institute program in Logan, Utah in 1938.

In 1939 Sessions was appointed as head of the Division of Religion at Brigham Young University. During his tenure he worked to organize the division into subject-based departments, and supervised the building of the Joseph Smith Building. He also worked to arrange for religious activities on campus, such as devotionals, Sunday School, and a Mutual Improvement Association. In 1947 he resigned from the university, but remained in Provo, Utah working as a home builder and developer. Sessions retired to Los Angeles, California in 1965, and passed away there on April 21, 1977.

Citation:
Papers, 1911-1978 (J. Wyley Sessions)

FamilySearch, 28 July 2010 (James Wyley SESSIONS; b. 11 Dec 1885, Marion, Idaho; d. 19 Apr 1977, Los Angeles)

Wikipedia, via WWW, Apr. 18, 2014 (J. Wyley Sessions; James Wyley Sessions; b. Dec. 11, 1885; d. April 21, 1977; first Institute director in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Moscow, Idaho, 1926; served as head of mission home in Salt Lake City, Utah; president of South African Mission, 1921-1926; established institutes throughout West; Institute director in Pocatello, Idaho, 1935; head of Division of Religious Education, Brigham Young University, 1939-1947)

Ancestry.com, via WWW, Apr. 18, 2014 (James Wyley Sessions; parents: Harvey Sessions and Alice Bradshaw Bryson; m. Sept. 17, 1913 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Annie Magdalen Funk; three children)

UPB files, Apr. 18, 2014 (B.S., Utah State Agricultural College, 1911; M.A., University of Idaho, 1928; professor of agriculture, University of Idaho, Southern Branch, 1917-1919; director, L.D.S. Institute, University of Idaho, 1927-1930; University of Idaho, Southern Branch, 1930-1935; University of Wyoming, 1935-1936; director, Missionary Training School, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1936-1938; professor of religion, L.D.S. Institute, Logan, Utah, 1938-1939; worked in real estate in Provo, Utah after resigning from BYU; retired to Southern California in 1965)

Religious educator, 2010: vol. 11 p. 194 (organized departments for ancient scripture, church history, church administration; organized religious activities on campus, including devotionals, Sunday School and Mutual Improvement Association; organized a chapter of Lambda Delta Sigma on campus) p. 195 (involved in building of Joseph Smith Building for religion division)

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

J. Wyley Sessions collection of genealogy, personal, and family records, 1885-1973

 Sub-Series — Box 5: Series 4 [Barcode: 31197231033496]
Identifier: UA 156 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents note

Contains a collection of family history work of the Sessions family. This includes documents pertaining to family history, memories, documentation of the 50th wedding anniversary of J. Wyley and his wife, and patriarchal blessings.

Dates: 1885-1973

J. Wyley Sessions correspondence, 1920-1977

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 156 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains personal and professional correspondence, handwritten and typed. Some of the correspondence is from J. Sessions, and other pieces of the correspondence are to him.

Dates: 1920-1977

J. Wyley Sessions journals, 1921-1949

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 156 Series 6
Scope and Contents note

Contains the journals of Sessions. Entries date from between 1921 and 1949.

Dates: 1921-1949

J. Wyley Sessions papers on Brigham Young University, 1939-1978

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 156 Series 3 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains notes, correspondence, and other materials related to Sessions' work at Brigham Young University.

Dates: 1939-1978

J. Wyley Sessions papers on career and full-time church assignments, 1919-1978

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 156 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains papers regarding his profession and church service. Includes materials related to missions he served as the president of, his service with the Institute program, his work at Brigham Young University, and other papers regarding his career.

Dates: 1919-1978

J. Wyley Sessions papers on civic activities, 1949-1965

 Series
Identifier: UA 156 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, notes, and other materials related to civic and business activities by Sessions. Materials date from between 1949 and 1965.

Dates: 1949-1965

J. Wyley Sessions papers on education, 1911-1934

 Series — Box 1: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197231033462]
Identifier: UA 156 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains papers regarding his education at the Agricultural College, and summer school at Brigham Young University and the University of Chicago.

Dates: 1911-1934

J. Wyley Sessions papers on Institutes of Religion, 1927-1976

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 156 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, notes, and other materials related to his service with the Institutes of Religion.

Dates: 1927-1976

J. Wyley Sessions speeches, articles, and notes, date of production not identified

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 156 Series 4
Scope and Contents note

Contains speeches and talks given by him. There are also articles he collected throughout his life, and various other writings.

Dates: date of production not identified

J. Wyley Sessions papers

 Collection
Identifier: UA 156
Scope and Contents Collection includes handwritten and typewritten correspondence, newsclippings (photocopies), financial reports and budgets, certificates, documents, poems, articles and speeches concerning his education, career, Church assignments, business pursuits, genealogy and personal and family history. Also includes three reel-to-reel audio tapes with memoirs and advice to posterity. Considering the extent, variety and significance of J. Wyley Sessions' activities and vocations the collection is very...
Dates: 1885-1977