Descriptive Summary
UA 1106
Janet Jenson Collection of Franklin S. Harris
materials,
1847-2002
Jenson, Janet, 1937-
L. Tom Perry Special Collections
7 boxes (3.5 linear ft.); 1 oversize
folder
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. Harris also taught at Utah State University
and served as president of Utah State University.
This collection contains materials
gathered by Janet Jenson in the course of writing a biography of her
grandfather Franklin S. Harris. The materials include articles by or about
Franklin S. Harris, Franklin S. Harris' testimony in the Confederated Bands of
Ute Indians vs. the United States, some business records of Franklin S. Harris,
newspaper clippings about Franklin S. Harris, correspondence of Franklin S. and
Estelle S. Harris, certificates of Franklin S. and Estelle S. Harris, and the
typescripts or copies of the diaries of Estelle S. Harris and Eunice S. Harris.
It also contains a draft of the biography of Franklin S. Harris written by
Janet Jenson and audiocassettes of oral histories with people who knew the
Harris family as well as the notes Jenson used to write the
biography.
Provenance
Donated by Janet Jenson, May 2004.
Access
This collection is open to public research.
Conditions of Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary
copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from Janet Jenson Collection of
Franklin S. Harris materials must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference
Services and/or the Special Collections' Board of Curators.
Preferred Citation
Initial Citation: UA 1106; Janet Jenson
Collection of Franklin S. Harris materials; University Archives; L. Tom Perry
Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.
Following Citations: UA 1106, LTPSC.
Biographical History
Franklin Stewart Harris was born in Benjamin, Utah on August 29, 1884.
He was the son of Dennison Emer and Eunice S. Harris. He received his early
education at the Juarez Stake Academy in Mexico and his advanced education was
done at Brigham Young University, Utah State Agricultural College, Cornell
University, and the University of Paris. He started his professional career as
a teacher at Juarez Stake Academy and subsequently taught at Brigham Young
University, Cornell University and Utah State University.
Dr. Harris served as president of Brigham Young University from 1921
to 1945. His administration was characterized by improvement in academics and
by growth of the University's physical facility and the size of its student
body. He left Brigham Young University in 1945 to become president of Utah
State University and served until 1950.
Dr. Harris was an expert on agricultural science, especially where
irrigation and soil use were concerned. His expertise gave him a world wide
reputation. He visited the Soviet Union in 1929, studying colonization problems
in Biro-Bidjan, Siberia. In 1939 he was engaged by the government of Iran as an
agricultural advisor. He returned to Iran again in 1950.
Dr. Harris campaigned unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in
1938. A gubenatorial campaign in 1945 was also unsuccessful.
Dr. Harris was married to Frankie Estella Spilsbury Harris (Estelle).
They had two sons and four daughters. He passed away on April 19, 1960.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains materials gathered by Janet Jenson in the
course of writing a biography of her grandfather Franklin S. Harris. The
materials include articles by or about Franklin S. Harris, Franklin S. Harris'
testimony in the Confederated Bands of Ute Indians vs. the United States, some
business records of Franklin S. Harris, newspaper clippings about Franklin S.
Harris, correspondence of Franklin S. and Estelle S. Harris, certificates of
Franklin S. and Estelle S. Harris, and the typescripts or copies of the diaries
of Estelle S. Harris and Eunice S. Harris. It also contains a draft of the
biography of Franklin S. Harris written by Janet Jenson and audiocassettes of
oral histories with people who knew the Harris family as well as the notes
Jenson used to write the biography..
Notes on Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically within each series. The
Series Janet Jenson's Research Notes for the Harris Biography contains only
material gathered from repositories other than Brigham Young University.
Researchers interested in her use of the presidential and personal papers of
Franklin S. Harris held by Brigham Young University should consult the
footnotes of her biography.
Subject Tracings
Institutions
Brigham Young University--Presidents
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University--History
Utah State University
People
Harris, Franklin Stewart, 1884-1960
Harris, Estelle Spilsbury
Harris, Eunice Stewart, 1860-1942
Places
Provo (Utah)
Genre/Form
Diaries
Letters
Container List
Biography of Franklin S. Harris by Janet Jenson
Biography of Franklin S. Harris by Janet
Jenson
Box
Folder
Contents
1
1
Preface-Chapter 8,
2002
1
2
Chapter 9-Chapter 16,
2002
1
3
Chapter 17-Sources Cited,
2002
1
4
Feedback from sons Chauncy and Frank Jr.
1
5
Chauncy D. Harris interview,
27 June 1980
1
6
Arlene H. Grove and Mildred H. Bradley,
7 June 1978
1
7
Franklin S. Harris, Jr. interview,
19 Feb. 1980
1
8
Nancy Becraft Burt interview
1
9
Leah H. Jensen interview,
22 July 1978
2
1
Dale D. Clark interview,
12 July 1997
2
2
Kiefer B. Sauls,
14 Aug. 1978
2
3
Helen H. Jenson interview,
22 Aug. 1978
2
4
G. Homer and Eudora Widstoe Durham interview,
6 Feb. 1981
2
5
Vasco Tanner interview,
16 Aug. 1978
2
6
Franklin S. Harris address,
4 May 1953
2
7
"Honoring a world citizen....,"
27 May 1950
2
8
Harris Family Reunion,
6 Aug. 1977
2
9
Harris Family Reunion,
7 July 1979
3
1
Harris Family Reunion,
4 July 1981
3
2
Summaries of Tapes
Diaries
Diaries,
1847-1972
Box
Folder
Contents
3
3-4
Frankie Estelle Spilsbury Harris Journal Transcripts,
1927,
1939-1958
3
5
Frankie Estelle Spilsbury Harris Diary,
1969
3
6
Frankie Estelle Spilsbury Harris Diary,
1970
3
7
Frankie Estelle Spilsbury Harris Diary,
1971
3
8
Frankie Estelle Spilsbury Harris Diary,
1972
4
1-2
Papers of Eunice S. Harris,
1847-1940
Correspondence
Correspondence,
1939-1962
Box
Folder
Contents
4
3
Letter from Estella (Estelle) Harris to Julia Jensen,
13 Oct. 1939
4
4
Letter to Mrs. F. S. Harris (Estella) from William H.
Boyle,
25 June 1945
4
5
Family letters from Franklin S. Harris while on his
Middle East trip,
1945-1946
4
6
Correspondence re: push to get Franklin S. Harris a
Federal appointment,
1948
4
7
Correspondence re: Golden Wedding Anniversary of
Franklin S. Harris,
1958
4
8
Letter from Chad J. Flake to Mrs. F. S. Harris,
1960
4
9
Letter re: Appraisal of the Franklin S. Harris cabins in
Provo Canyon,
1962
Franklin S. Harris Business Records and Court Case
Franklin S. Harris Business Records and Court Case,
1947-1965
Box
Folder
Contents
4
10
Testimony of Franklin S. Harris in Confederated Bands of
Ute Indians vs. the United States,
1947
4
11
Business Records,
1947-1965
Newspaper Clippings
Newspaper Clippings,
1946-1960
Box
Folder
Contents
5
1
Newspaper Clippings,
1946-1960
Pamphlets and Articles mentioning or by Franklin S. Harris
Pamphlets and Articles mentioning or by Franklin S.
Harris,
1907-2002
Box
Folder
Contents
5
2
Postcards between Franklin Harris and Estelle Spilsbury,
1907-1908
5
3
Inauguration of F. S. Harris at Utah State University,
1945-1946
5
4
Remarks at F. S. Harris Funeral Services,
1960
5
5
Iran and Utah State University,
ca. 1961
5
6
First Annual Banquet of the Karl G. Maeser Associates,
1965
5
7
Half a Century of Friendship between Iran and
Utah
5
8
Recollections of Franklin S. Harris by Franklin S.
Harris Jr.,
1980
5
9
The Mormon and the Cantor,
1995
5
10
Ardeshir Zahedi: Hall of Honor Induction,
2002
5
11
Utah Valley Hospital by Clayton Jenkins
5
12
Tests of Church Addresses,
1931-1932
5
13-14
Articles by F. S. Harris,
1917-1944
Certificates, Drawings, Pillow Case
Certificates, Drawings, Pillow Case
Box
Folder
Contents
5
15
Certificates of F. S. and Estelle Harris (including
marriage certificate)
5
16
Early Drawings by Estelle S. Harris
5
17
Reunion of BY High School Classes of 1932-1934,
1983
Oversize
Certificates of F. S. and Estelle Harris and Pillow
Case
Janet Jenson's Research Notes for the Harris Biography
Janet Jenson's Research Notes for the Harris
Biography
Box
Folder
Contents
6
1
Ch. 1 FSH--Childhood (1884-1903)
6
2
Ch. 2 FSH--Student Days (1903-1911)
6
3
Ch. 3 FSH--Agricultural College Faculty
(1911-1921)
6
4
Ch. 4 FSH--BYU Presidency (1921-1945)
6
5
Ch. 5 FSH--Round the World trip (1926-1927)
6
6
Ch. 6 FSH--Consulting Work
6
7
Ch. 7 FSH--Siberia and ICOR (1929)
6
8
Ch. 8 FSH--Senate Campaign (1938)
6
9
Ch. 8 FSH--Governor Campaign (1948)
6
10
Ch. 9 FSH--Iran Advisor (1939-1940)
6
11
Ch. 9 FSH--Iran Point IV (1950-1952)
6
12
Ch. 10 FSH--Middle East Missions (1946)
6
13
Ch. 11 FSH--Utah Agricultural College President
(1945-1951)
6
14
Ch. 12 FSH--Misc. Travels
7
1
Ch. 13 FSH--Business & Civic Interests
7
2
Ch. 14 FSH--Church Work
7
3
Ch. 15 FSH--Family & Ancestors
7
4
Ch. 16 FSH--Writings & Speeches
7
5
Ch. 17 FSH--Character, Beliefs, etc.
7
6
Ch. 18 FSH--Retirement (1952-1960) &
Death
7
7
Ch. 18 FSH--Honors & Awards
7
8
Miscellaneous Notes & Sources
7
9
Oral History (UA OH & MSS OH) interviews
7
10
General Biographical Sketches
7
11
FSH Lists
7
12
Carlton Culmsee FSH File
7
13
Recollections of Franklin S. Harris by Franklin S.
Harris Jr., 1980
7
14
Talk given by Franklin S. Harris, 4 May 1953