BYU Harold B. Lee Library

The Department of Church History was a religious department which served to educate students in not only the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but also in the histories of early Christianity as well as world religions. It was established in 1940 following the division of the earlier Department of Religious Education. In 1959 the college curriculum was reorganized and the department became part of two new departments, the Department of L.D.S. Theology, Church Organization and Administration and the Department of History and Philosophy of Religion. The following individuals served as chairmen or acting chairmen: Russel B. Swensen (1940-1947), Hugh Nibley (1948-1954), Russell R. Rich (1954-1959).

Variant names

Brigham Young University. Division of Religion. Dept. of Church History

Description

Established: 1940

Abolished: 1959

Location: Provo, Utah (1940-1959)

Functions

This department helped the university to realize its goal of having students well versed in both secular and religious knowledge. Among those courses taught in the Dept. of Church History were Latter-day Saints Church History, Builders of Early Christianity, and World Religions.

Assets and Administrative Structure

The dept. of Church History functioned under the administration of a chairman under the direct supervision of the University president.

Associated Units

Superior unit: Brigham Young University. Division of Religion (1940-1959)

Earlier unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of Religious Education (1940)

Later unit: Brigham Young University. Dept. of L.D.S. Theology, Church Organization and Administration (1959)

Later unit:Brigham Young University. Dept. of History and Philosophy of Religion (1959)

Sources

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1940-1941: p. 73, 204 (university goal of both secular and religious knowledge; example courses offered: Latter-day Saints Church History, Builders of Early Christianity, and World Religions)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1946-1947: p. 295 (Russel B. Swensen, chairman)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1947-1948: p. 8 (no chairman)

Brigham Young University, 1975: vol. 4 p. 495 (chairmen: Russel B. Swensen, Hugh Nibley, and Russell R. Rich)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1948-1949: p. 280 (Hugh Nibley, chairman)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1954-1955: p. 17 (Russell Rich, acting chairman)

Brigham Young University Annual Catalog 1955-1956: p. 39 (Russell Rich, chairman)

Maintenance Information

Record ID: EAC-2009-00327

Creator: CEM