Special BYH Historical Research Project:
Volunteers Needed to Build
A Comprehensive Listing of
Brigham Young Academy High School
Students & Faculty
1875 to 1903
In the history of BYA, BYU and BYH we are not aware of any project that has been undertaken to document all Brigham Young high school students and graduates from the beginning to the present day.
We are seeking the volunteer services of two or more BYH alumni working together to take on the earliest portion of this serious historical research project, 1875 to 1903. It is helpful if these alumni live in the Utah Valley area.
The BYU Archives reports that it has a number of major collections that might be useful in reconstructing a master list of BYA and BYU high school graduates, and their faculty & staff. The following is a list of possible places to search.
Physical description: 5 v. : bound. General Note: Vol. 3 is encapsulated. Collection includes registers of student enrollment containing information on home address, parents, Provo address, and age. Also contains enrollment slips from Benjamin Cluff, Brigham Young Academy treasurer. Student records.
Physical description: 5 v. : paperbound. Summary: Collection includes handwritten registers of names of primary, grammar, sub-freshmen, high school and normal school students, listing faculty references, academic standings and promotions, and residences. Corporate subject: Brigham Young High School, Provo, Utah.
http://catalog.lib.byu.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi/gyF2pO0dCi/LEE/221150313/8/14216004/ROLL+BOOKS+1895-1957
http://catalog.lib.byu.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi/PBppacRon1/LEE/221150313/8/14534714/GRADE+BOOKS+1913-1937
http://catalog.lib.byu.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi/CEA7m4HNRP/LEE/221150313/20/UA+1177/1/X3345911-1001/?VIEW%5E6=Details
Physical description: 6 boxes (3 linear feet). Access restriction: This collection is open to the public. This collection includes commencement exercise programs from 1890 to the present. Brigham Young Academy, founded in 1875, was changed to a university on 15 October 1903 by President Benjamin Cluff Jr. Commencement programs from both institutions are included in this collection. http://ead.lib.byu.edu:8080/Ead/ead_viewdoc.jsp?eadid=UA1008.xml
Physical description: 4, 19 p., Includes list of faculty, teaching terms, and subjects.
All of the above records are found in the BYU Archives & Special Collections. There is enough information to compile a reasonably good listing. This list can then be "polished" in future years using other sources.
If you are interested in volunteering to take on this project, please contact Larry Christensen at LHChristen@aol.com The BYU Archives contact is:
J. Gordon Daines III
University Archivist
Brigham Young University
1130 HBLL
Provo, UT 84602
Gordon_Daines@byu.edu
(801) 422-5821
It is important that this research project be carefully designed.
For example, a complete student record could include at least the following:Full name correctly spelled Date of birth Place of birth Hometown before coming to BYA Names of parents, Type of high school study (Normal [teacher prep], Commercial, Arts & Trades, Music, general High School, Agriculture, etc.) Years or portions of years attended Year of graduation if they graduated Any physical description Any quotes Subsequent profession and locations if known Because some BYA students were married, spouses names would be important. If the historical person is a faculty or staff member, then the term of their tenure, subjects taught and/or duties performed should be noted.
Once a record is made for each student and faculty member and is as complete as reasonably possible, this information will be entered on this website.
Excellent spelling and good handwriting is a major requirement for each volunteer. It is estimated that each volunteer may spend 20 to 25 hours on this project. One lead volunteer is needed to oversee and coordinate the research.
Research Central