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Lee, Harold B., 1899-1973

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1899 - 1973

Biographical History

Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) was the eleventh president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Harold Bingham Lee was born in Clifton, Idaho on March 28, 1899 to parents Samuel Marion and Louisa Emily Bingham Lee. He grew up in Idaho, attending Oneida Stake Academy until he was 17. After graduating from the academy, he taught school for four years until he was called to serve a mission in the western United States. After his mission, he was hired as the principal of the Granite School District in 1923. He was appointed a member of the Salt Lake City Commission in December 1932. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints called him to organize the Church Security Welfare Program in 1935. He was called as an apostle in 1941, and served in that position until 1972 when he was called to be the president of the church. He died on December 26, 1973 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He married Fern L. Tanner on November 14, 1923. Together they had two children. After her death in 1962, he married Freda Joan Jensen on June 17, 1963.

Citation:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, via WWW, January 22, 2015 (Harold B. Lee: Eleventh President of the Church; b. Mar. 28, 1899 in Clifton, ID; parents Samuel Marion and Louisa Emily Bingham Lee; attended Oneida Stake Academy; taught school for four years; called to serve mission in western US; principal of Granite School District in 1923; appointed member of Salt Lake City Commission in Dec. 1932; organized Church Security Welfare Program in 1935; called to be an apostle in 1941; called to be the president in 1972; d. Dec. 26, 1973; Salt Lake City; married Fern L. Tanner on Nov. 14, 1923; Tanner died in 1962; married Freda Joan Jensen on June 17, 1963)

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

L. Brent Goates collection of Harold B. Lee papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 9392
Scope and Contents The L. Brent Goates collection of Harold B. Lee papers contains materials created by Harold B. Lee (1899-1973), an apostle and eleventh president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The collection includes a scrapbook of early family photographs, audio recordings of addresses, copies of printed addresses (some with annotations), handwritten notes for addresses, letters to and from Harold B. Lee, newspaper clippings, research and family history notes, and other loose...
Dates: 1874-1980
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / L. Brent Goates collection of Harold B. Lee papers

Harold B. Lee correspondence, 1936-1973

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9392 Series 1
Scope and Contents Contains letters to and from Harold B. Lee as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Series includes handwritten letters from family members including a handwritten note from Sister Lee to Harold B. Lee as he attended a conference; typed responses by Harold B. Lee to letters received from members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints including many letters from young children, a photograph of Harold B....
Dates: 1936-1973
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 9392, L. Brent Goates collection of Harold B. Lee papers

Harold B. Lee family histories, 1874-1977

 Series — Box 12: Series 5; Series 6; Series 7 [Barcode: 31197239126102], Folder: 13-18
Identifier: MSS 9392 Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains family histories of the Samuel Lee family. The series includes family group records with personal anecdotes, historical images, handwritten notes by Harold B. Lee, and an original poem written by Harold B. Lee. Materials are dated 1874 and 1977.

Dates: 1874-1977
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 9392, L. Brent Goates collection of Harold B. Lee papers

Harold B. Lee letter to Sherman D. Brown

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232572336]
Identifier: MSS 8661
Scope and Contents

Collection contains a letter written by Harold B. Lee to Sherman D. Brown. The letter describes an experience Harold B. Lee had on a flight to Salt Lake City. He felt hands upon his head in a manner similar to a priesthood blessing, then later experienced massive hemorrhaging. He believed that the blessing on the plane allowed him to survive until he was off the flight. Dated 1973.

Dates: 1973
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Harold B. Lee letter to Sherman D. Brown

Harold B. Lee letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230313386]
Identifier: MSS SC 1588
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of three letters addressed to Gil Hodges and signed by Harold B. Lee and David O. McKay, presidents of the Mormon Church. The letters concern the sealing of women to their husbands and the ligitimacy of the use of birth control.

Dates: 1969-1973
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Harold B. Lee letters

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