Oral history interview with Lester Whetten
Scope and Contents note
Interview that Don Norton had with Lester Whetten in 1983 concerning the struggle of Mormon students as they tried to coincide their testimonies and education during the 1930s.
Dates
- 1983
Creator
- Norton, Don Evan, 1902-1983 (Person)
- Whetten, Lester B. (Lester Benjamin), 1904-1988 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use note
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Oral history interview with Lester Whetten must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Biographical History
Lester Benjamin Whetten (1904-1988), PhD, was the dean of the General College at Brigham Young University. He also served as president of the Mexico Mission.
Lester Benjamin Whetten was born 23 June 1904 in Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico. He graduated high school from the Juarez Stake Academy in 1926. He received his bachelor's and master's in animal husbandry from Brigham Young University in 1932 and 1934 respectively. He was a graduate fellow at the University of Chicago from 1934-1937 and earned his doctorate. He began his teaching as a professor at Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction, Colorado. Aside from teaching, Whetten had a ranch and farm there and loved to farm and raise animals on his four acres. He also served as the branch president. In 1947 he was called to organize a Western Colorado stake. His family leftGrand Junction in 1952 for Snow College, where he served as president for three years. He left Snow in 1956 to become the director of public relations at Brigham Young Univeristy. He stayed at BYU and served as the dean of General College from 1965-1972. He also served as an associate professor of religious instruction. While at BYU he also developed an American Indian Education program. In 1973 he was called to serve as the mission president of the Mexico Mission. He would also later be called to serve as a regional representative in Central America and then in Portugal and and Spain, where he established the first stakes there.
He married Kate Allred in 1930 and they had four children. Whetten died 2 December 1988.
Extent
1 folder (0.01 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This is an interview that Don Norton had with Lester Whetten in 1983 concerning the struggle of LDS students as they tried to coincide their testimonies and education during the 1930s. 10 pages.
Custodial History note
Donated by Don Norton in 1986.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Donated; Don Norton; 1986.
Appraisal note
Utah and American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (20th Century Western & Mormon Manuscripts collection development policy, 5.VII, 2007).
Processing Information note
Processed; Melissa Cowles, student processor and John Murphy, curator; 2008.
- Title
- Register of Oral history interview with Lester Whetten
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Melissa Cowles, student processor and John Murphy, curator.
- Date
- 2008
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States