Benjamin Cluff
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Cluff, Jr. was the first President of Brigham Young University
, and the school's third principal. Under his administration, the students and faculty more than doubled in size, and the school went from an academy to a university and was officially incorporated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cluff changed class periods from half an hour to a full hour, adopted the official colors of the university, started summer school and the Alumni Association, encouraged the university's first student newspaper (White and Blue), provided the first student loans and developed an intercollegiate sports system.
Cluff lived in Coaville, Utah prior to his starting studies at Brigham Young Academy in 1877, where he studied in the Normal Department. After one year he became a teacher at BYA. He then went on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Hawaii in 1879. In 1882 he returned to teaching at BYA, teaching everything from language to bookkeeping. In 1886 he received approval for a leave of absence to go to the University of Michigan and was set apart to study there by John W. Taylor
.
Cluff received a bachelors degree from the University of Michigan
. He also served as president of the Ann Arbor Branch of the LDS church while there. At the time he left for the University of Michigan Cluff had two wives, Mary the daughter of David John
and Harriet "Hattie Cullimore.
When Cluff returned to BYA in 1890 he began teaching classes such as educational psychology. He also was the moving force behind the class of 1891 organizing with officers and electing Richard R. Lyman
as their class president.
In 1902, Cluff organized an expedition to explore Mexico in search of the city of Zarahemla
mentioned in the Book of Mormon
. Although he was stopped in Nogales by Heber J. Grant
, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
, and told to cease the venture, Cluff ignored this counsel and proceeded with the journey. The ensuing eighteen months saw Cluff incarcerated in a Mexican jail. He finally returned to his position in 1904, but was accused of various improprieties, including sexual immorality allegedly occurring in Mexico, by his assistant Walter Wolfe. Although he was proven innocent, his public image had taken such a blow that he was forced to resign.
The Cluff Building on BYU's Provo campus is named for him.
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, and the school's third principal. Under his administration, the students and faculty more than doubled in size, and the school went from an academy to a university and was officially incorporated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cluff changed class periods from half an hour to a full hour, adopted the official colors of the university, started summer school and the Alumni Association, encouraged the university's first student newspaper (White and Blue), provided the first student loans and developed an intercollegiate sports system.
Cluff lived in Coaville, Utah prior to his starting studies at Brigham Young Academy in 1877, where he studied in the Normal Department. After one year he became a teacher at BYA. He then went on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Hawaii in 1879. In 1882 he returned to teaching at BYA, teaching everything from language to bookkeeping. In 1886 he received approval for a leave of absence to go to the University of Michigan and was set apart to study there by John W. Taylor
John W. Taylor
John W. Taylor is the name of:*John W. Taylor , apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints*John W. Taylor , early nineteenth century American politician...
.
Cluff received a bachelors degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He also served as president of the Ann Arbor Branch of the LDS church while there. At the time he left for the University of Michigan Cluff had two wives, Mary the daughter of David John
David John (Mormon)
David John was a leading figure in Utah at the dawn of the 20th century. He served as a stake president and a member of the BYU board of trustees....
and Harriet "Hattie Cullimore.
When Cluff returned to BYA in 1890 he began teaching classes such as educational psychology. He also was the moving force behind the class of 1891 organizing with officers and electing Richard R. Lyman
Richard R. Lyman
Richard Roswell Lyman was an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1918 to 1943. He was excommunicated in 1943 for unlawful cohabitation, a result of a polygamous relationship. In 1954 Lyman was rebaptized. His full priesthood blessings were restored posthumously in 1970...
as their class president.
In 1902, Cluff organized an expedition to explore Mexico in search of the city of Zarahemla
Zarahemla
Zarahemla is the name of a prominent land, a capital city, and a leader in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is revered by members of various Latter Day Saint churches as sacred scripture....
mentioned in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. Although he was stopped in Nogales by Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
, and told to cease the venture, Cluff ignored this counsel and proceeded with the journey. The ensuing eighteen months saw Cluff incarcerated in a Mexican jail. He finally returned to his position in 1904, but was accused of various improprieties, including sexual immorality allegedly occurring in Mexico, by his assistant Walter Wolfe. Although he was proven innocent, his public image had taken such a blow that he was forced to resign.
The Cluff Building on BYU's Provo campus is named for him.
Sources
- Brian Q. Cannon. "Shaping BYU: The Presidential Administration of Benjamin Cluff Jr" in BYU Studies Vol. 48, No. 2, p. 4-40.