Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960

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Professor of Agronomy and President of Brigham Young University 1921-1945, President of Utah State Agricultural College 1945-1950. Avid photographer and served on multiple government missions around the world.

From the description of Photographs, 1910-1954. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80530525

President of Brigham Young University from 1921 to 1945 and Utah State Agricultural College from 1945 to 1950.

From the description of Papers, 1947. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 144585820

Franklin S. Harris (1884-1960) was a professor of agronomy and university president. He served as president of Brigham Young University between 1921 and 1945, and as president of Utah State Agricultural College between 1945 and 1950. He was also an avid photographer and served on multiple government missions around the world.

From the description of Franklin S. Harris photographs, 1910-1954. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367735338

Franklin Stewart Harris served as president of Brigham Young University from 1921 until 1945. His administration was characterized by improvement in academics and by growth of the University's physical facility.

From the description of Lantern slide of Franklin S. Harris, ca. early 1900s. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 368009060

From the description of Brigham Young University President's Records, 1921-1945. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79819044

Seventh President of Utah State University.

From the description of Papers, 1945-1950. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 122639019

Brigham Young University President, 1921-1945.

From the description of Papers, 1921. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122367720

With the end of World War II, the college entered a period of phenomenal growth. The next decade became a particularly demanding and convulsive period for the institution. Four presidents served between 1945 and 1954, as the college experienced dramatic growing pains. Enrollment soared as service¬men returned to college under the G.I. Bill, during the remainder of the 1940s. This placed an additional demand on administrators to secure appropriations for buildings and faculty.

Furthermore, the college began to outgrow the confines of its name, as it gradually started on the road to becoming a full-fledged university. Undoubtedly, President Peterson realized the unavoidable expansion which would occur, as he sought to expand the curriculum during the war years. His efforts, however, met stiff opposition from some members of the Board of Trustees, which influenced his decision to resign in 1944.

In an effort to curtail Peterson's curricular expansion outside the confines of agriculture, the Board of Trustees selected Harris as his successor. Harris had been the director of the College's Agricultural Experiment Station from 1916 to 1921, before leaving that position to become president of Brigham Young University in Provo.

Change was inevitable, however, and confining the curriculum to only agricultural education became impossible. Harris had, in fact, been largely responsible for the expanse of programs at BYU and he, more than anyone before him, had been responsible for establishing BYU as a permanent Utah educational facility. Like Peterson before him, Harris was a native of Utah. Born in Benjamin in 1884, Harris spent most of his youth in Mexico, but ¬returned to Utah to complete his undergraduate degree at BYU. After receiving his Ph. D. from Cornell in 1911, Harris became a professor of agronomy at the Utah Agricultural College. He served in that capacity until his appointment as Director of the Experiment Station.

Harris was also the first to fully envision the possibilities of exporting the expertise of the college, internationally. His contacts with the United States Office of Foreign Agriculture initiated the institution's involvement with international programs. As early as 1940, while still president of BYU, Harris selected two USAC faculty members, agronomist Donald W. Pittman, and irrigation engineer Luther M. Winsor, to conduct scientific research in the country of Iran.

After becoming president in 1946, the college increased its foreign involvement. Almost immediately after becoming President, Harris took leave to tour Greece and Syria, and later, under United States President Harry S. Truman's Point IV Program, began a tour of Middle-Eastern countries. These extra-¬presidential activities enabled Harris to form a strong relationship with the federal bureaucracy and several foreign countries, particularly Iran, a relationship which persisted at the institution through the 1970s.

In late 1949 President Harry S. Truman selected Harris as his choice to become Technical Advisor to the Ambassador on Point IV activities in Iran. In 1950, Harris resigned the presidency of USAC to accept the appointment. Harris stayed active in foreign affairs, where he acted as a " good will" ambassador for USAC. Many international students received training at USAC as a result of his efforts.

From the guide to the Franklin S. Harris Papers, 1945-1951, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Brigham Young University President's Records, 1921-1945. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Jenson, Janet, 1937-. Janet Jenson Collection of Franklin S. Harris materials, 1847-2002. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Exhibit prints. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Harris, Chauncy D. (Chauncy Dennison), 1914-2003. Brigham Young University yearbooks, 1930-1933. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Jensen, J. Marinus (Jens Marinus), 1868-1945. History of Brigham Young University / J. Marinus Jensen et al. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Nelson, Lowry, 1893-1986. Nelson Lowry oral history interview, Sept. 3, 1963. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Jacobs, J. Smith. Oral history, 1993. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Photographs, 1910-1954. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Johnson, Arlin Rex, 1898-1970. Report of semi-centennial celebration of the founding of Brigham Young University, 1925. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Bradley, Mildred H., 1921-. Oral history interview, March 13, 1977. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart. Papers, 1945-1950. University of New Mexico, Los Alamos, UNM-Los Alamos Library
referencedIn Janet Jenson Collection of Franklin S. Harris materials, 1847-2002 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn Jensen, Christen, 1881-1961. Papers, 1903-1961. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Brigham Young University. Office of Secretary-Treasurer. Records, 1939-1943. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Oaks, Dallin H. BYU inaugural speeches and responses. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Culmsee, Carlton Fordis, 1904-. Carlton Culmsee oral history interview, Nov. 16, 1981. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Harris family papers, 1818-1969. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Papers, 1945-1950. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
referencedIn Christen Jensen papers, 1903-1961 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Papers, 1947. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Christensen, N. La Verl. Interview, 1984. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Hyde, Gordon Taylor, 1887-1968. Letter, 25 Oct 1938 to Franklin S. Harris. Landmarks of Science Microform Service
referencedIn Jenkins, Clayton, 1886-1982. Clayton Jenkins oral history interview, Feb. 6, 1981. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Extracted portion of the diary of Franklin S. Harris, June 1, 1945 to Dec. 5, 1949. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
referencedIn Grover, Arlene Harris. Interview, 1986. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Letter, 1932 July 1 : Provo, Utah, to Helen Ellsworth, Denver, Colorado. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Brigham Young University. Office of the President. Presidential reports, 1892-1949. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Photographs of BYU trustees, 1875-1975. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Sessions, J. Wyley, 1885-. J. Wyley Sessions oral history interview, Aug. 12, 1972. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Brown, Gail, 1918-. Founder's Day Report, 1941. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Gordon Taylor Hyde papers, 1938 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Manuscripts Division
referencedIn Brigham Young University. Presidential photographs, 1875-2003. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Harris, Chauncy D. (Chauncy Dennison), 1914-2003. Interview, 1986 Jan. 14, Chicago, Illinois. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Brigham Young University. Office of the President. Salaries, budget, and finances of Brigham Young University, 1939-1943. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Brigham Young University. Board of Trustees. Executive Committee. Records, 1921-1922. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Franklin S. Harris Papers, 1945-1951 Utah State University. Merrill-Cazier Library. Special Collections and ArchivesUniversity Archives
referencedIn National Society, Sons of Utah Pioneers. Honorary memberships for Brigham Young University presidents, 2005. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf AV 222, Radio, Publicity, and Mission Literature Committee (General Church : 1935-1957). Sunday evening from Temple Square 1939, 1945-1954, 1957-1977 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Diary. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
referencedIn Peterson, Hugh W. (Hugh Wickman), 1893-1982,. Oral history interview with Hugh W. Peterson, 1980 November 19. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960,. Franklin S. Harris photographs, 1910-1954. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin S. Jr., Dr. Book of Mormon as literature. US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento
creatorOf Brigham Young University. Student Publications Office. Records, 1932-1933. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Clark, J. Reuben (Joshua Reuben), 1908-1992. J. Reuben Clark III oral history interview, Jan. 19, 1982. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Lantern slide of Franklin S. Harris, ca. early 1900s. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960. Papers, 1921. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf MS 25924, Chamberlin, William Henry 1870-1921. William H. Chamberlin Jr. collection 1872-1928 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
referencedIn Brigham Young University. Sketches of presidents, 1980s. Harold B. Lee Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bradley, Mildred H., 1921- person
associatedWith Brigham Young University. corporateBody
associatedWith Brigham Young University. Board of Trustees. Executive Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Brigham Young University. Office of Secretary-Treasurer. corporateBody
associatedWith Brigham Young University. Office of the President. corporateBody
associatedWith Brigham Young University. Student Publications Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Brown, Gail, 1918- person
associatedWith Chamberlin, William Henry 1870-1921 person
associatedWith Christensen, N. La Verl. person
associatedWith Clark, J. Reuben (Joshua Reuben), 1908-1992. person
associatedWith Culmsee, Carlton Fordis, 1904- person
associatedWith Grover, Arlene Harris. person
associatedWith Harris, Chauncy D. (Chauncy Dennison), 1914-2003. person
associatedWith Hyde, Gordon Taylor, 1887-1968. person
associatedWith Jacobs, J. Smith. person
associatedWith Jenkins, Clayton, 1886-1982. person
associatedWith Jensen, Christen, 1881-1961. person
associatedWith Jensen, J. Marinus (Jens Marinus), 1868-1945. person
associatedWith Jenson, Janet person
associatedWith Jenson, Janet, 1937- person
associatedWith Johnson, Arlin Rex, 1898-1970. person
associatedWith National Society, Sons of Utah Pioneers. corporateBody
associatedWith Nelson, Lowry, 1893-1986. person
associatedWith Peterson, Hugh W. (Hugh Wickman), 1893-1982, person
associatedWith Radio, Publicity, and Mission Literature Committee (General Church : 1935-1957) corporateBody
associatedWith Sessions, J. Wyley, 1885- person
associatedWith Snow College (Ephraim, Utah) corporateBody
associatedWith Southern Utah University corporateBody
associatedWith Utah State Agricultural College corporateBody
associatedWith Utah State Agricultural College. Office of the President. corporateBody
associatedWith Utah State University corporateBody
associatedWith Utah State University. Office of the President corporateBody
associatedWith Utah State University. Office of the President corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Provo (Utah)
Utah
Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)
Russia
California
Middle East
California
Utah
Logan (Utah)
Iran
Provo (Utah)
Utah
Middle East
Utah
Logan (Utah)
Iran
Utah--Logan
Mexico
Mexico
Utah
Utah
Russia
Subject
Education
College presidents
College presidents
College presidents
Universities and colleges
Universities and colleges
Universities and colleges
Mormons
Utah State University
Occupation
Photographers
Activity

Person

Birth 1884-08-29

Death 1960-04-18

English

Information

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