Brigham Young Academy Campus, 1902

The easiest way to access the images is through the finding aid which is available through the BYU Finding aids website. You can search for the name of the building that you are interested in (for example, the Maeser Building or the Academy Building) and access the digital images by clicking on the thumbnail image in the search results. This will take you to the digitized contents of the folder of photographs of that particular building.

You can also go directly to the finding aid for UA 827 and scroll through the list of buildings or search within the collection. Once you have located the building that you are interested in, click on the thumbnail to access the digital file of photographs. Each thumbnail represents the digitized contents of a folder of photographs. Go ahead and see what you can find.

If you have any questions about this digital collection, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu

If you have any questions about Edith Johnson’s oral history or the other oral histories held in the University Archives, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

If you have questions about the content on the BYU History Collections website or would like to suggest potential content, please email the University Archivist at gordon_daines@byu.edu.

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

Memorial Hall, ca. 1960s

The original Memorial Lounge was built as an addition to the Wilkinson Student Center in 1967. The lounge was sponsored by the Alumni Association. The lounge contained memorial plaques, etched with names, that were hung to pay tribute to the 207 BYU students and alumni who died in war. During the renovations begun in 1995, the lounge and plaques were moved to a new room adjacent to the Wilkinson Center’s East Ballroom. This new area was rededicated on November 7, 2000. Now known as Memorial Hall, it is meant to be a place of quiet reflection.

The University Archives is home to a collection that documents the importance of Memorial Hall to campus. This collection is UA 797 Brigham Young University Alumni Association Memorial Hall dedication files, 1980-1983. It contains work files concerning the dedication for the Memorial Hall in the Ernest L. Wilkinson Center. It also includes a copy of the program and accompanying brochure listing students killed in Korean and Vietnam wars as well as a brochure listing students killed in World Wars I and II. The second brochure also lists students who served in World War II who were not killed.

If you would like to learn more about UA 797, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

Tree of Life sculpture (Courtesy BYU Photo)

The “Tree of Wisdom” was originally placed north of the Harold B. Lee Library and was later moved south of the Kimball Tower. It was recently torn down but will be replaced in the spring of 2012.

Frank Nackos wanted people to get at least two meanings out of the “Tree of Wisdom” sculpture–one being roots sinking into spiritual ground and the other being branches rising up and pointing heavenward. The sculpture was designed to allow visitors to create their own meaning from it by getting up close and personal with it.

Windows of Heaven Sculpture (Courtesy BYU Photo)

The “Windows of Heaven” was erected east of the Widtsoe Building and was meant to replicate a gothic tower. The sculpture is meant to invoke the majesty of the heavens.

If you have any questions about these sculptures or the centennial celebrations, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu

NIT Championship Basketball team, 1950-1951

NIT Championship Basketball team, 1965-1966

The University Archives is home to numerous collections documenting basketball at Brigham Young University. Many of these resources are described in the Popular Search Topics page Brigham Young University Basketball and the blog posting Basketball at Brigham Young University.

If you have questions about these resources, contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu

The International Folk Dance Ensemble performs in Belgium in 1968.

The Brigham Young University Archives is home to several collections that document the history of the International Folk Dance Ensemble. They include:

• UA 1340 International Folk Dance Ensemble records, 1956-1981. This collection contains scrapbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings, tour information, correspondence, class inventories, budgets, videos, and programs documenting the ensemble’s activities.
• UA 5579 Mary Bee Jensen scrapbook on the International Folk Dance Ensemble, 1951-1964. This collection contains a photocopy and two digital copies on compact disc of a scrapbook on the Brigham Young University International Folk Dancers, dating from between 1951 and 1964. The scrapbook was complied by Mary Bee Jensen’s father.
• BX 8688 .A1 no.21 Folk dancers of the Brigham Young University
• BX 8608 .A1a no.3528Brigham Young University International Folk Dancers

If you would like to learn more about the materials held by the University Archives that document the history of the International Folk Dance Ensemble, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

Lighting the Y has a long tradition at Brigham Young University. The Y was first lit in 1924 and has been lit many times since then for homecoming and commencement activities. The lighting of the Y was originally done by dipping mattress stuffing in oil and placing the resulting balls around the edges of the block Y. These balls were lit and members of the Intercollegiate Knights stood guard to make sure that the mountain didn’t catch fire. The burning mattress balls were replaced by light bulbs in the 1970s.

The Y was lit for the first time in 1924. The lighting of the Y is now an important tradition at Brigham Young University.

The lit Y is a breathtaking site that has many meanings for Brigham Young University students and alumni but the most important is the sense of community and home represented by the Y.

If you would like to learn more about homecoming traditions, the Block Y, or the history of Brigham Young University, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.

President Benjamin Cluff began what would become our Homecoming with the establishment of Founders Day in 1891 to remember individuals who had established Brigham Young Academy and helped it to flourish. The first Founders Day was held 16 October 1891, and quickly became an annual tradition. The first event officially called Homecoming was held in the fall of 1930. According to the Wilkinson centennial history, Homecoming was associated with a football game and parade from the very beginning. “During the halftime of the November 15 football game with the Montana State Bobcats, floats, costumed students, stunts, and people depicting various periods from 1875 to the year 2000 paraded past the stands.” Founders Day became an integral part of Homecoming, while retaining its purpose of honoring the university’s founders.

White and Blue Homecoming headline, May 1920

Homecoming has always been important to Brigham Young University. The May 28, 1920 issue of the school’s newspaper The White and Blue featured a large headline announcing that “Hundreds of Old Grads Return for Homecoming.” The full newspaper is available through the BYU History Digital Collections and this specific article can be accessed here.

If you would like to know more about the resources available for studying Homecoming at BYU, please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu.