Harold B. Lee Library

Franklin S. Harris and Brigham Young University

October 28, 2009

Franklin S. Harris began his association with Brigham Young University in 1903 as a student in the high school. He received his high school diploma in 1904 and returned home to Colonia Juarez, Mexico to teach school. However, his passion for learning had been ignited and in 1905 he returned to Brigham Young University and commenced his college studies under the direction of Dr. John A. Widtsoe. He completed his college studies in 1907 and took a job at the Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah. After teaching at the Agricultural College for one year he took his young bride and moved to New York to pursue graduate studies in agronomy at Cornell University. Upon the completion of his doctorate he returned to the Agricultural College as a professor of agronomy and an agronomist on the staff of the Experiment Station.

In 1921 he was offered the presidency of Brigham Young University and returned to his alma mater. Under the capable direction of President Harris Brigham Young University was accredited by the Northwest Association of Colleges and Universities in 1923 and by the American Association of Universities in 1928. Accreditation was an important step in the university’s history as it became formally recognized by other institutions and it became easier for Brigham Young University graduates to attend graduate schools. Harris also laid out an ambitious plan of growth for university and began to articulate the important role that Brigham Young University would play in the educational system of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The University Archives is home to several collections that document the influence that Franklin S. Harris had on the development of today’s world class university. They include:

• UA 1089 Brigham Young University President’s Records, 1921-1945. The presidential papers of Franklin S. Harris include alphabetical correspondence files, budget files, and information on the early accreditation of the university. To access the finding aid for this collection click here.
• MSS 340 Franklin Stewart Harris papers, 1912-1959. This collection includes personal correspondence, diaries, research notes, rough drafts of publications, and a copy of his thesis.
• MSS 340 P Franklin Stewart Harris photographs, 1910-1954. This collection contains photographs taken by Harris on multiple trips around the world and in the Western United States. To access the finding aid for this collection click here.
• UA 1106 Janet Jenson Collection of Franklin S. Harris materials, 1847-2002. This collection contains materials gathered by Janet Jenson in the course of writing a biography of her grandfather Franklin S. Harris. The materials include articles by or about Franklin S. Harris, Franklin S. Harris’ testimony in the Confederated Bands of Ute Indians vs. the United States, some business records of Franklin S. Harris, newspaper clippings about Franklin S. Harris, correspondence of Franklin S. and Estelle S. Harris, certificates of Franklin S. and Estelle S. Harris, and the typescripts or copies of the diaries of Estelle S. Harris and Eunice S. Harris. It also contains a draft of the biography of Franklin S. Harris written by Janet Jenson and audiocassettes of oral histories with people who knew the Harris family as well as the notes Jenson used to write the biography. To access the finding aid to this collection click here.

If you would like to learn more about the holdings of the University Archives on Franklin S. Harris, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

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Honoring the Founders

October 14, 2009

Brigham Young University has a rich heritage and every year during Homecoming the university pauses to reflect on those men and women who have helped to create the educational institution that we enjoy. The honored founder this year is Eugene Lusk Roberts. Roberts served as the first head of the Brigham Young University’s athletic department from 1910 to 1928 and was well known for his love of the outdoors and his commitment to allowing everyone to have an athletic experience. He will be honored in several different ways as part of the Homecoming celebrations that begin next week.

The tradition of honoring our founders runs deep at Brigham Young University. The practice was initiated by Benjamin Cluff, Jr. in 1891 as a way to encourage class and institutional spirit.

Cluff wanted students and faculty to have a way to tap into the rich heritage of the young educational institution. Every year during October students and faculty would gather at the Academy Building to listen to speakers extol the virtues of the men and women who had sacrificed time, talents, and money to allow the Brigham Young Academy to survive and flourish. They told wonderful stories about the early founders to illustrate the importance of sacrifice, commitment, loyalty, and hard work–some of which were even true!

These stories established a rich oral history that lives on today in our Homecoming celebrations. This oral tradition will be on display next week as the winner of the Brimhall essay contest reads his or her winning essay in front of thousands of students and faculty–an essay that discusses the contributions of Eugene L. Roberts to the university and what those contributions mean to us today. The oral delivery of the essay ties the university community back to the original Founders Day of 1891 as we connect to the past through the spoken word.

If you have any questions about the history of Brigham Young University, please contact the university archivist at (80) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

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Owen S. Rich, Broadcast Education Pioneer

October 1, 2009

Owen S. Rich was a broadcast education pioneer at Brigham Young University. He came to BYU in 1946 at the request of T. Earl Pardoe. Pardoe was looking for someone to introduce radio broadcasting at the university. Rich had been serving as a chief electronic technician for the United States Coast Guard when Pardoe contacted him. Rich came to BYU as an undergraduate student in 1946 and immediately set to work establishing KBYU radio. He graduated from BYU in 1950 and was appointed the first full-time broadcasting instructor at the university. In the early 1950s Rich was asked by President Ernest L. Wilkinson to go to California to learn more about broadcast television. Rich packed up his small family and began studies in telecommunications at USC. After receiving his MA degree from USC, he returned to BYU and began planning for KBYU-television in 1958. Rich taught at the university for 40 years and was well respected by colleagues and students.

The University Archives is home to several collections that document Rich’s influence on the development of communications education at Brigham Young University. These collections include:

• MSS 5784 Personal histories of Owen S. and Ora Rich, 1922-2006. This collection contains the personal histories of Owen S. Rich and his wife Ora. It also includes a bound volume containing letters of appreciation from colleagues and students.
• UA 1142 KBYU-related photographs and material, 1940-1960. This collection contains photographs and other materials related to the history of KBYU television and radio.
• MSS 2127 Owen S. Rich papers. This collection includes information relating to the communications courses that Rich taught at BYU. It also includes an autobiography of his career in broadcast education.
• UA 989 Speech and videos on KBYU, 1987-1990. This collection contains a speech given by Rich on the establishment of KBYU. It also includes a video documenting Rich’s career at KBYU.

If you would like to learn more about Owen S. Rich or the University Archives, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu .

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Heber J. Grant Library

September 16, 2009

From the beginning of his presidential administration Franklin S. Harris campaigned for a library building. He believed that Brigham Young University could never successfully join the ranks of the country’s colleges and universities without a strong library. A library building would be a visible symbol of the university’s commitment to scholarship and learning and it would help the young university’s efforts to build a strong library collection. In August of 1924 President received word that the General Church Board of Education had approved his request to build a library on Temple Hill. The completed building would join a small cluster of buildings on upper campus and would be further evidence of the university’s intention to move from its previous location.

Construction on the Heber J. Grant Library began in October of 1924 and the building was dedicated one year later. The new library was two stories high and contained office space and classrooms in addition to closed stacks for the library collections and a large reading room. It also included a room for university’s Ancient American collection (an early precursor of today’s Special Collections). It was named after Heber J. Grant, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to honor his love of reading.

The University Archives is home to several collections that document the early history of the Heber J. Grant Library. They include:

• UA 405 Contributors to the Heber J. Grant Library. This collection includes a list of individuals and institutions who contributed to the Heber J. Grant Library.
• UA 231 Collected articles about the Heber J. Grant Library. This collection includes a series of articles from the Alumni Announcer concerning the Heber J. Grant Library.
• UA 1089 Franklin S. Harris Brigham Young University presidential records. This collection includes correspondence that documents Harris’ lobbying activities on behalf of the new library building.

If you would like to learn more about the Heber J. Grant Library, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu

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Eugene L. Roberts, Athletic Pioneer

September 2, 2009

Eugene Lusk Roberts was born in Provo, Utah on May 13, 1880. He was the 10th child of William and Julia Maria Lusk Roberts. His family moved around several times during his youth. He entered Brigham Young Academy at the age of eighteen and engaged in the full spectrum of activities available at the young school. He participated in gymnastics, track and field, and football. In fact, he captained the track and field team that won the inaugural Utah Intercollegiate Track and Field Championship. He was also an avid journalist and was an editor of the school’s newspaper, the White and Blue. He also performed in several dramatic performances and was elected president of the class of 1904.

He began his teaching career in 1903 when he accepted a position at Franklin School in Provo, Utah. He worked with the principal of Franklin School to introduce athletics as part of the school’s extracurricular activities and served as coach of several of these athletic teams. His girl’s basketball team won the city championship and his boy’s basketball team finished in second place to the Maeser School. He taught and coached at Franklin School for three years before accepting a call to serve as a missionary in Europe.

Upon returning from his mission in late 1908, Roberts enrolled at the University of Utah where he was urged to consider going to Yale University to study physical education which he did. In 1910 President George H. Brimhall offered Roberts the position of athletic coach and chairman of the Department of Physical Education at Brigham Young University. Roberts accepted President Brimhall’s offer even though he had received other higher paying offers. Roberts believed that athletics were for everyone and moved to democratize sports at BYU. In 1911 he started the BYU Invitational Track Meet and in 1912 he established the annual Timpanogos Hike (which lasted into the 1970s).

Roberts remained at BYU until 1928 when he accepted a position at the University of Southern California.

The University Archives is home to numerous collections that document the life of Eugene L. Roberts. A Popular Search Topics page lists many of these collections. Other collections in which material about Eugene Roberts can be located are:

• The White and Blue contains articles written by Roberts as well as descriptions of the athletic programs that he initiated. Of particular interest are the years 1910 to 1921.
• UA 104 J. Marinus Jensen collection. This collection includes original manuscripts consisting of Brigham Young Academy student registers, addresses by Karl G. Maeser, life sketches, and histories of departments, clubs and organizations used in the preparation of History of Brigham Young University published in the 1940s.
• UA 563 Records of the Recreation Department, 1914-1968. This collection contains information on the annual Timpanogos Hike organized and sponsored by Eugene L. Roberts.
• UA 62 Dept. of Athletics records, 1925-1928. Collection includes typescript news release and a program announcing the acquisition of two cougar kittens to become mascots; it also includes their disposition and names.
• UA 48 Timpanogos hike programs, 1922-1940. Collection includes various printed programs from the hikes.

If you would like to learn more about Eugene L. Roberts or the University Archives, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu .

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The Extension Division

August 19, 2009

In 1921 President Franklin S. Harris proposed the establishment of an Extension Division at Brigham Young University. The Extension Division’s main purpose was to broaden the reach of the university and to allow it to have a positive impact on the lives of residents of Utah and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lowry Nelson was appointed as the Extension Division’s first director and immediately set to work creating a successful correspondence program and establishing extension courses in the local community. The Extension Division was composed of four major sections: 1) The Bureau of Social Service, 2) The Bureau of Publications, 3) The Bureau of Correspondence Study, and 4) The Bureau of Lectures and Entertainments. Within two months of establishing this organization the Extension Division had reached out to 8500 members of the local community.

The two most popular programs run by the Extension Division were the Alpine Summer School and Leadership Week (the predecessor of Education Week). The Extension Division relied heavily on the faculty of Brigham Young University to run both of these programs and faculty were also conducted correspondence courses as well as lecturing on a variety of topics.

The University Archives is home to several collections that document the Extension Division and its development. They include:

• UA OH 1 Lowry Nelson oral history interview, Sept. 3, 1963. In this oral history Nelson discusses the development of the Extension Division as well as aspects of university life.
• UA 292 Lowry Nelson letter, 1945. Letter from Lowry Nelson to T. Earl Pardoe giving a brief history and overview of the Extension Division.
• UA 547 Division of Continuing Education records, 1921-1988. This collection contains files of the Deans and Directors. Includes records for Education week, leadership conferences, Travel Study, Home Study, evening classes, Special Courses and Conferences, community education, Salt Lake Center, and a brief history of the Division. Click here to access the finding aid for this collection.

If you would like to learn more about the sources available on the Extension Division at Brigham Young University , please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu .

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Wilmer W. Tanner personal papers

July 30, 2009

The University Archives recently acquired the personal papers of Wilmer W. Tanner. Tanner was an undergraduate student at Brigham Young University from 1932 until 1936. After obtaining a graduate degree in zoology, he returned to the university as a faculty member in 1950. He successfully implemented a research program during a time in which the university was focused almost exclusively on undergraduate education. From 1960 to 1967, he edited Herpetologica and succeeded in saving its host organization, the Herpetologists’ League, from financial collapse. Tanner was heavily involved in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, appointed in 1961 (and reappointed in 1966) as secretary-treasurer of the Utah Academy and elected president of the same in 1969 (serving through 1971).

Wilmer Tanner was appointed as the curator of the BYU Life Science Museum in 1972 and quickly began working towards a building for the university’s collections. He worked closely with Monte L. Bean and convinced him to fund the construction of a Life Science Museum building. Bean also decided to donate his extensive trophy collection to the university to augment its life science collection. Tanner oversaw the construction of the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum and was quite pleased with the results. Tanner also worked diligently to create an endowment for the museum. The Bean Museum opened its doors in 1978.

This collection contains extensive correspondence; records documenting the Herpetology League; records of the Herpetologica journal; records highlighting Tanner’s involvement in the American Association for the Advancement of Science; materials documenting various Brigham Young University organizations; records associated with an Atomic Energy Commission project; extensive records and correspondence associated with the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum and its endowment; research notes, charts, and computer printouts; zoology department documents; and various materials of personal interest to Wilmer W. Tanner. The materials date from 1940 to 2009.

The collection is cataloged under the call number MSS 7361 and is titled the Wilmer W. Tanner papers. It is available through the L. Tom Perry Special Collections reference desk (1130 HBLL) in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University. If you would like to know more about this collection, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

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Warren Dusenberry and Brigham Young University

July 22, 2009

The educational underpinnings of Brigham Young University were laid in the early 1860s when Wilson and Warren Dusenberry moved to Provo and established the first Dusenberry School.

The Dusenberry brothers arrived at crucial time in the cultural formation of early Provo. Territorial leaders were beginning to emphasize the importance of education and citizens in Utah County were becoming more committed to providing educational opportunities for their children. Warren and Wilson believed that education ran the gamut of available topics and their school was popular because it offered classes in the standard educational topics of the day as well as classes in drama, music, and dancing. Financial difficulties forced the first Dusenberry School to close at the end of the spring term in 1865 and the brothers became involved in other pursuits.

In 1869 conditions appeared favorable for the establishment of another school and the second Dusenberry School was established in the Kinsey Building in downtown Provo. The school proved highly successful and in 1870 was reorganized as a branch of the University of Deseret and moved to the Lewis Building. The Timpanogos Branch of the University of Deseret struggled financially from its inception—in large part because the citizens of Utah County were not willing, or able, to pay tuition. The Timpanogos Branch was forced to close in 1875. About the same time Brigham Young was looking for a way to establish an educational institution in his name. Brigham Young had been heavily involved with the University of Deseret and was aware of the educational foundation that had been laid by the Dusenberry brothers in Provo. President Young decided to take advantage of the thriving educational environment in Provo and his ownership of the Lewis Building by establishing the Brigham Young Academy there under the interim direction of Warren Dusenberry. The Brigham Young Academy opened in 1875 with Warren Dusenberry as its first principal. Warren directed the winter semester (Dec. 1875 to Apr. 1876) before stepping down to pursue other employment opportunities. His successor was Karl G. Maeser.

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Lewis Building–Brigham Young Academy’s first home

July 8, 2009

The first home of the Brigham Young Academy was the Lewis Building. The J. W. Lewis Store was built in 1867 and was soon purchased by Brigham Young. The Lewis Building was a brick building located in downtown Provo. When Brigham Young executed the deed of trust establishing Brigham Young Academy he stipulated that the school be held in the Lewis building. Due to repairs that were being made on the old building, the new school’s opening was delayed until January 3rd, 1876.

The Lewis Building served as the home of Brigham Young Academy from 1876 until January 1884 when it was destroyed by fire.

The destruction of the Lewis Building initiated a period of homelessness for the Brigham Young Academy which lasted for eight years. The Academy held classes in a variety of buildings throughout Provo until the Education Building was completed in 1892. The Brigham Young University Archives holds a few collections that document the fire that destroyed the Lewis Building as well as images of the building before its destruction. They include:

• UA 521 Lars Echert Eggertsen letter, 1884. This letter describes the fire that burned the Lewis building.
• UA 179 Aretta Young’s “On the burning of the Brigham Young Academy at Provo, 1884.” This collection includes a letter to Evanda Young in the form of a poem describing the burning of the Lewis Building in January 1884.
• UAP2 1000 views of 100 years photo collection. This collection contains images of the Lewis Building before the fire and after the fire.
• UA 823 College of Biology and Agriculture photographs, [ca. 1880s-1960s]. This collection contains a photograph of the Lewis Building.

If you would like to learn more about the early homes of the Brigham Young Academy, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

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Associated Students of Brigham Young University Histories, 1922-1986 (UA 1081)

July 1, 2009

Student government at Brigham Young University began in 1909. It was refined in 1924 with the acceptance of a new constitution. The new constitution established an organization that included a president, first vice-president, second vice-president, secretary-historian, editors of two publications (Y News and Banyan), and a cheermaster. A student council that included university administrators was also part of the governing structure. The organization was know as the Student Body until 1933 when the title Associated Students of Brigham Young University (ASBYU) was first used. The student body organization would be known ASBYU until 1988 when a new constitution was implemented under the direction of President Jeffrey R. Holland and the name was changed to the Brigham Young University Student Service Association (BYUSA) to better reflect the organization’s new service oriented role.

One of the officers in ASBYU was the secretary-historian who was tasked with documenting as many of the activities of the student body as possible. The results of the efforts of the numerous individuals who held this office can be found in UA 1081 Associated Students of Brigham Young University histories, 1922-1986. Comprised of 94 bound volumes, this collection contains meeting minutes, photocopies of newspaper articles, correspondence, brochures, pamphlets, and other miscellaneous items that were deemed to have a historical nature. This rich collection allows researchers to gain a better understanding of the variety of activities available to students and how students interacted with the university administration through their governance organization.

If you would like to know more about this collection and others that document student life at Brigham Young University, contact the University Archivist at gordon_daines@byu.edu or (801) 422-5821.

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