An important component of the Professional Papers Program is the acquisition of the personal papers of representative faculty members.

The Brigham Young Academy faculty, 1888

Faculty members and their various activities (including teaching, research, and involvement with professional associations) lie at the heart of the intellectual vitality of Brigham Young University. It is important that this aspect of the university’s history be documented. While the University Archives would prefer to acquire the complete personal papers of every faculty member employed by Brigham Young University, this is not practical or possible given the Archives’ limited resources. The Archives has created a policy to help guide the University Archivist’s selection activities and to ensure that a representative sample of faculty papers is acquired as part of the Professional Papers Program. The Faculty Papers Collecting Policy is available at: Faculty Papers Collecting Policy (2009) This policy aids the University Archivist in making decisions about which faculty members’ papers to acquire and what portions of those papers should be acquired.

The Archives has also created another document to help faculty members understand what types of materials the Archives is interested in. This enables the faculty member to make determinations on what types of materials to save long-term and what types of materials that they can dispose of when they are finished using them. This document is available at: Faculty and staff papers

If you have any questions about the Professional Papers Program or donating faculty papers to the University Archives, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

Eugene L. Roberts, chair of the Department of Physical Education, ca. 1910

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.

Benjamin Cluff, third principal of Brigham Young Academy and first president of Brigham Young University, served from 1892-1903.

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!

Founders Day, ca. 1900

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.

Heber J. Grant Library, 1925

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

Eugene L. Roberts, chair of the Department of Physical Education, ca. 1910

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).

Students rest while hiking Mount Timpanogos, 1912

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 .

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.

Alpine Summer School staff 1920s (Lowry Nelson is on the 2nd row, 4th in from the left wearing glasses)

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 .

Wilson Dusenberry

Warren Dusenberry, first principal of Brigham Young Academy

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.

Lewis Building, ca. 1879

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

The fire ravaged Lewis Building, 1884

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.

Students rest while hiking Mount Timpanogos, 1912

The first hikers hauled bedding and tents up Provo Canyon to Aspen Grove and camped overnight before summitting the nearly 12,000 foot mountain.  They then spent another night at Aspen Grove and then hiked back to Provo. The Timpanogos Hike drew sixty five students the second year of its existence and quickly became a popular student activity.

Hiking Mount Timpanogos, ca. 1925

By the 1960s the annual hike drew thousands of participants.  In 1970 the Forest Service asked the university to discontinue the organized hike due to severe erosion of the mountainside caused by the increasing number of hikers.  Students still continued to hike Mountain Timpanogos as individuals and this continues to be a popular student activity today.  There are a number of collections in the University Archives that document the annual Timpanogos Hike.  They include:

• UA 48 Timpanogos Hike programs, 1922-1940.  This collection contains various printed programs handed out as part of the hike.
• UA 562 Eugene L. Robert papers, 1912-1972.  This collection documents Eugene L. Roberts’ life and includes information on the Timpanogos Hike from 1912 to 1914.  To access the finding aid for this collection, click here.
• UA 563 Brigham Young University Department of Recreation records, 1914-1968.  This collection includes a series that documents the Timpanogos Hike from 1923 to 1970.  To access the finding aid for this collection, click here.
• 378.2 Sm6834 1955 Smith, William H. The annual Mount Timpanogos hike : its origin, background, and development. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University, 1955.  This thesis describes the history of the Timpanogos hike up until 1955.

If you would like to know more about the Timpanogos Hike, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

The first BYU mascots were two young cougar kittens named Cleo and Tarbo.

The young cougar kittens were soon adopted by George K. Lewis as personal pets and quickly became fixtures on campus during the 1925-1926 school year.

George K. Lewis with Cleo and Tarbo, ca. 1925

The cougar kittens were kept on the south side of Temple Hill until 1930 when Tarbo died and Cleo was sent to a zoo in Salt Lake City. The school has not owned cougars since then, although live cougars were sometimes brought to campus for special occasions. The current mascot, Cosmo Cougar, made his deput in the 1950s.

A number of collections are available for those interested in learning more about the cougar mascots of Brigham Young University.  They include:

• UA 62 Brigham Young University Dept. of Athletics records, 1925-1928.  This 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 1312 Alexander Wadley reminiscences, 2006.  This collection consists of two reminiscences. The first discusses the Block Y and various activities associated with it. The second discusses life at Brigham Young University in the 1930s and describes the different buildings on campus as well as student life. It also includes a discussion of the first cougar mascots.
• UA 869 Brigham Young University single photo file, ca. 1890s-1980s.  This collection of campus photographs includes images of Cleo and Tarbo as well as early versions of Cosmo Cougar.

These collections are available for research in the Perry Special Collections (1130 HBLL).  If you would like to learn more information about the mascot of Brigham Young University, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu .

Brigham Young Academy, 1897

By 1899 a Collegiate Department, which offered college level courses, and a Commercial Department, which provided post-secondary vocational training, were added to the Academy.  In 1903 Benjamin Cluff, Jr. convinced the Board of Trustees to change the name of the school to Brigham Young University.  This change formally occurred on October 15th, 1903.  Although the name had been changed, Brigham Young University still had a long way to go before being recognized as a college or a university.

The next major steps to becoming a university occurred under the direction of Franklin S. Harris. In 1922 Harris began a reorganization of the academic structure of Brigham Young University.  He created five colleges (College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Commerce and Business Administration, College of Applied Sciences, and College of Fine Arts), the Graduate Division, the Research Division, and the Extension Division.  He also encouraged the Board of Trustees to authorize the construction of a library building which was completed in 1925.In 1923 Brigham Young University was formally accredited as a college by the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools and in 1928 accreditation was achieved with the Association of American Universities.

Brigham Young University campus, 1929

Brigham Young University graduates would now have their degrees honored by graduate schools across the country.  The university had finally officially entered the fraternity of colleges and universities.

If you would like to learn about the sources available for studying the history of Brigham Young University , please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.