Whetten, Lester B. (Lester Benjamin), 1904-1988
Biographical History
Lester B. Whetten (1904-1988) was an educational administrator in Utah.
Lester Benjamin Whetten was born on June 23, 1904 in Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico, to John Amasa and Martha Elizabeth Carling Whetten. He attended school at Brigham Young University, where he studied animal science, sociology and Spanish. On June 18, 1930 he married Kate Allred in the Cardston Temple in Alberta, Canada. After his graduation in 1932, he completed a master's degree in education administration and then did advanced studies in higher education administration at the University of Chicago.
After completing his education, Whetten built a successful career in educational administration. This included work as the executive dean of the Chicago College of Osteopathy (1937-1942), superintendent of schools in Pagosa Springs, Colorado (1942-1943), president of Snow College (Ephraim, Utah, 1953-1956), director of agriculture at Mesa College (Grand Junction, Colorado), director of public relations and dean of general college at Brigham Young University (1956-1972), and chairman of Indian Education Department (1972-1973).
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Whetten served as a mission president in Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico. He also served as a regional representative for the Church in El Salvador, Spain, and Portugal.
Whetten died on December 3, 1988 in Walnut Creek, California.
Citation:
Oral history interview with Lester Whetten, 1983 (Lester B. Whetten)Register of the Faculty Biographical Files, 1900-2000 (Lester B. Whetten)
FamilySearch, 14 April 2011 (Lester Benjamin WHETTEN; b. 23 JUN 1904 Mexico; d. 3 Dec 1988 Utah)
Ancestry.com, via WWW, Sept. 23, 2013 (Lester Benjamin Whetten; Lester B. Whetten; b. June 23, 1904 in Garcia, Mexico; parents: John Amasa Whetten and Martha Carling; m. June 18, 1930 to Kate Allred; lived in Mont., Provo, Utah; d. Dec. 3, 1988 in Contra Costa County, Calif.)
Deseret News, Dec. 7, 1988 (Lester B. Whetten; Lester Benjamin Whetten; b. June 23, 1904, Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico, to John Amasa and Martha Elizabeth Carling Whetten; m. Kate Allred on June 18, 1930, in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, LDS Temple; graduated from BYU, 1932 with majors in animal science, sociology and Spanish; master's in education administration in 1934; advanced studies in higher education administration on fellowship at the University of Chicago; executive dean, Chicago College of Osteopathy, 1937-1942; superintendent of schools, Pagosa Springs, Colo., 1942-1943; president of Snow College, 1953-1956; director of agriculture, Mesa College (Grand Junction, Colo.); director of public relations and dean of general college, Brigham Young University, 1956-1972; chairman of Indian Education Department, 1972-1973; member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; president of the Mexico City and Guadalajara missions; regional representative for El Salvador, Spain, and Portugal; d. Dec. 3, 1988 in Walnut Creek, Calif.)
Found in 32 Collections and/or Records:
General College dean records
Contains memos, minutes, budget, curriculum, and Indian Program correspondence of Lester Whetten.
Public Relations Division administrative correspondence, 1956-1961
Contains correspondence and administrative papers of Presidents Barrett, Bentley, Crockett, edwards, Sandgren, Taylor, and Wilkinson, as well as of Ben Lewis, John Bernhard, and Dean Lloyd.
Public Relations Division brochures, correspondence, and other material, 1941-1961
Contains administrative files, including brochures, proposals, minutes, correspondence, convention papers, essays, and other material.
Public Relations Division correspondence and other material on general education, 1959-1960
Contains correspondence and miscellaneous materials by the division.
Public Relations Division correspondence on campus tours, 1957-1958
Contains correspondence from the division director related to campus tours.
Public Relations Division correspondence on university publications, 1959-1961
Contains correspondence with Ernest L. Olson regarding university publications.
Public Relations Division correspondence, reports, and other material, 1951-1961
Contains correspondence, brochures, statistics, questionnaires, newsletters, reports, and other materials on university enrollment, construction, fund-raising and foundations, scholarships, and loans.
Public Relations Division director records, 1941-1962
Contains correspondence, reports, financial records, and other materials related to the functions and activities of the division during the term of Lester Whetten. Materials date from between 1941 and 1962.
Public Relations Division financial records, 1954-1962
Contains copies of the budgets of various university departments.
Public Relations Division general records on public relations, 1951-1961
Contains administrative files, including correspondence, budgets, mailings, minutes, clippings, brochures, reports, and other materials.