George H. Brimhall

Family Background

1852. December 9: Born George Henry Brimhall in Salt Lake City. In 1874 he married Alsina Elizabeth Wilkins; they had six children. After her death in 1884 he married Flora Robertson; they became the parents of nine children.

Education

1870. Every Sunday night or Monday morning, Brimhall walked twelves miles from his home in Spanish Fork to attend "Timpanogos University," a Provo high school. He worked for Principal Warren Dusenberry for board and did janitorial work for tuition. At the end of the year he gave the valedictory address "with considerable vehemence, I presume, as for the first time I was applauded although my pants were patched."

1877. Received a "normal diploma" (teaching certificate) from Brigham Young Academy in Provo, where he studied under Karl G. Maeser. "Judge Dusenberry showed me the road to higher education," Brimhall recalled, "but Karl G. Maeser showed me the way to a higher life."

Principal

1890. After serving as principal of Spanish Fork schools, district superintendent of Utah County schools, and superintendent of Provo community schools, Brimhall became head of the intermediate department and preparatory school at Brigham Young Academy for twenty dollars a month. He later became principal of the normal department and completed a bachelor's degree in pedagogy, graduating in Brigham Young Academy's first college commencement in 1893. Later that year he was awarded the bachelor of didactics by the Church Board of Education.

BYU President

1900. Having served as a member of the Church Board of Education since 1898, Brimhall was designated acting president of Brigham Young Academy in the spring of 1900 when President Benjamin Cluff left on an expedition to South America. Brimhall planned to "improve… but not… radically revolutionize the school," for he believed the academy "depends not on man, or any set of men. God planted it and we are but gardeners to take care of it."

Brimhall purchased seventy-four acres of "Temple Hill," where the upper BYU campus was built. The academy became Brigham Young University in 1903, and Brimhall was appointed permanent president in 1904. He introduced B.S. degrees in 1904, B.A. degrees in 1907, and the M.A. in 1919.

During his presidency, five buildings were constructed on campus—the Training School (1902), Art Building (1904), Maeser Memorial (1911), Mechanic Arts Building (1919), and Women's Gymnasium (1913)—one of few buildings in the United States devoted exclusively to physical education for women.

"Modernist Controversy"

1909. Critics charged that BYU was "lacking in genuine scholarship" and that most of its teachers were a "bunch of farmers who gave their leisure time only to teaching."

To upgrade the level of scholarship, Brimhall hired four Mormon professors trained at Harvard, Chicago, Cornell, and the University of California. The popular, articulate professors quickly won the minds and hearts of many students with their lectures in eugenics, communism, socialism, Darwinism, and "higher criticism" of the Bible.

1910. "Many stake presidents, some of our leading principals and teachers, and leading men who are friends of our schools … expressed deep anxiety" to Church Commissioner of Education Horace Hall Cummings. Brimhall, though an initial supporter of the professors, changed his view when some BYU students "told him they had quit praying because they learned in school there was no real God to hear them." A dream about the issue charged Brimhall with "enthusiastic support thereafter in setting things right." Both he and Cummings advised the four professors "not to press their views with such vigor," and Cummings took a report to the university trustees which ultimately led to the dismissal or resignation of the four.

BYU students petitioned in behalf of the professors. Caught in the crossfire, Brimhall feared loss of funding for the university and declared, "The school follows the Church."

Ecologist

Brimhall was responsible for developing a bird sanctuary in Provo Canyon and was a strong advocate of placing elk, caribou, and mountain sheep in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains.

Honors

An active supporter of the Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts of America, he received the first Silver Beaver awarded by the council.

In addition to receiving honorary doctorates from the Church Board of Education and Brigham Young University, he was president of Utah Educational Association (1897-1898), National Educational Association life member, and American Red Cross director. A BYU building was named in his honor in 1935.

Author

Brimhall wrote numerous articles for Church magazines and composed several songs, including "Old Glory" and "I Love Thee, Utah Valley." He also published a collection of sayings and speeches entitled Long and Short Arrows.

Retirement and Death

1921. After twenty-one years as President of Brigham Young University, Brimhall retired in 1921.

1932. July 29 :After several months of ill health, Brimhall became depressed. "His restless spirit chafed under the long seige which had sapped his strength." While his wife was out of the house on a short shopping trip, Brimhall killed himself with a hunting rifle. Apostles George Albert Smith, Richard R. Lyman, and Melvin J. Ballard participated at his funeral program. He was buried in Provo Cemetery.

Sources
Pardoe, T. Earl. The Sons of Brigham. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Alumni, 1969.
Provo, Utah. Brigham Young University. Harold B. Lee Library. George H. Brimhall Journal.
_____. Benjamin Cluff, Jr., Presidential Papers.
_____. "Pedagogical History of the Brigham Young Academy Class of '93."
Provo Daily Herald, 17 March 1911, 31 July 1932.
Salt Lake Telegram, 30 July 1932, p. 2
Sherlock, Richard. "Campus in Crisis: BYU, 1911." Sunstone 4 (January- February 1979):10-16 [p.421]
Smith, Joseph F. "Philosophy and the Church Schools." Juvenile Instructor, April 1911, pp. 208-209.
Wilkinson, Ernest L. Brigham Young University: The First One Hundred Years. 4 vols. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1975.

	A Book of Mormons Richard S. Van Wagoner and Steven C. Walker Copyright 1982, Signature Books Salt Lake City, Utah Contents


	George H. Brimhall (1852-1932)

		George H. Brimhall was Brigham Young University president and middleman in the BYU "modernist controversy." Photograph courtesy Brigham Young Universtiy.


	Family Background 1852. December 9: Born George Henry Brimhall in Salt Lake City. In 1874 he married Alsina Elizabeth Wilkins; they had six children. After her death in 1884 he married Flora Robertson; they became the parents of nine children. Education 1870. Every Sunday night or Monday morning, Brimhall walked twelves miles from his home in Spanish Fork to attend "Timpanogos University," a Provo high school. He worked for Principal Warren Dusenberry for board and did janitorial work for tuition. At the end of the year he gave the valedictory address "with considerable vehemence, I presume, as for the first time I was applauded although my pants were patched." 1877. Received a "normal diploma" (teaching certificate) from Brigham Young Academy in Provo, where he studied under Karl G. Maeser. "Judge Dusenberry showed me the road to higher education," Brimhall recalled, "but Karl G. Maeser showed me the way to a higher life." Principal 1890. After serving as principal of Spanish Fork schools, district superintendent of Utah County schools, and superintendent of Provo community schools, Brimhall became head of the intermediate department and preparatory school at Brigham Young Academy for twenty dollars a month. He later became principal of the normal department and completed a bachelor's degree in pedagogy, graduating in Brigham Young Academy's first college commencement in 1893. Later that year he was awarded the bachelor of didactics by the Church Board of Education. BYU President 1900. Having served as a member of the Church Board of Education since 1898, Brimhall was designated acting president of Brigham Young Academy in the spring of 1900 when President Benjamin Cluff left on an expedition to South America. Brimhall planned to "improve… but not… radically revolutionize the school," for he believed the academy "depends not on man, or any set of men. God planted it and we are but gardeners to take care of it." Brimhall purchased seventy-four acres of "Temple Hill," where the upper BYU campus was built. The academy became Brigham Young University in 1903, and Brimhall was appointed permanent president in 1904. He introduced B.S. degrees in 1904, B.A. degrees in 1907, and the M.A. in 1919. During his presidency, five buildings were constructed on campus—the Training School (1902), Art Building (1904), Maeser Memorial (1911), Mechanic Arts Building (1919), and Women's Gymnasium (1913)—one of few buildings in the United States devoted exclusively to physical education for women. "Modernist Controversy" 1909. Critics charged that BYU was "lacking in genuine scholarship" and that most of its teachers were a "bunch of farmers who gave their leisure time only to teaching." To upgrade the level of scholarship, Brimhall hired four Mormon professors trained at Harvard, Chicago, Cornell, and the University of California. The popular, articulate professors quickly won the minds and hearts of many students with their lectures in eugenics, communism, socialism, Darwinism, and "higher criticism" of the Bible. 1910. "Many stake presidents, some of our leading principals and teachers, and leading men who are friends of our schools … expressed deep anxiety" to Church Commissioner of Education Horace Hall Cummings. Brimhall, though an initial supporter of the professors, changed his view when some BYU students "told him they had quit praying because they learned in school there was no real God to hear them." A dream about the issue charged Brimhall with "enthusiastic support thereafter in setting things right." Both he and Cummings advised the four professors "not to press their views with such vigor," and Cummings took a report to the university trustees which ultimately led to the dismissal or resignation of the four. BYU students petitioned in behalf of the professors. Caught in the crossfire, Brimhall feared loss of funding for the university and declared, "The school follows the Church." Ecologist Brimhall was responsible for developing a bird sanctuary in Provo Canyon and was a strong advocate of placing elk, caribou, and mountain sheep in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains. Honors An active supporter of the Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts of America, he received the first Silver Beaver awarded by the council. In addition to receiving honorary doctorates from the Church Board of Education and Brigham Young University, he was president of Utah Educational Association (1897-1898), National Educational Association life member, and American Red Cross director. A BYU building was named in his honor in 1935. Author Brimhall wrote numerous articles for Church magazines and composed several songs, including "Old Glory" and "I Love Thee, Utah Valley." He also published a collection of sayings and speeches entitled Long and Short Arrows. Retirement and Death 1921. After twenty-one years as President of Brigham Young University, Brimhall retired in 1921. 1932. July 29 :After several months of ill health, Brimhall became depressed. "His restless spirit chafed under the long seige which had sapped his strength." While his wife was out of the house on a short shopping trip, Brimhall killed himself with a hunting rifle. Apostles George Albert Smith, Richard R. Lyman, and Melvin J. Ballard participated at his funeral program. He was buried in Provo Cemetery. Sources Pardoe, T. Earl. The Sons of Brigham. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Alumni, 1969. Provo, Utah. Brigham Young University. Harold B. Lee Library. George H. Brimhall Journal. _____. Benjamin Cluff, Jr., Presidential Papers. _____. "Pedagogical History of the Brigham Young Academy Class of '93." Provo Daily Herald, 17 March 1911, 31 July 1932. Salt Lake Telegram, 30 July 1932, p. 2 Sherlock, Richard. "Campus in Crisis: BYU, 1911." Sunstone 4 (January- February 1979):10-16 [p.421] Smith, Joseph F. "Philosophy and the Church Schools." Juvenile Instructor, April 1911, pp. 208-209. Wilkinson, Ernest L. Brigham Young University: The First One Hundred Years. 4 vols. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1975.