Honoring Gerrit de Jong, Jr.

Each year the descendants of former Brigham Young University president George H. Brimhall honor the founders of the university by sponsoring the Brimhall Essay Contest. Held in conjunction with the university’s Homecoming celebrations, the contest is designed to introduce students to the individuals who have helped to shape Brigham Young University’s unique institutional character.

This year’s honored founder is Gerrit de Jong Jr.

Gerrit de Jong, Jr.

Gerrit de Jong Jr. was first dean of the College of Fine Arts. The College of Fine Arts was established in 1925 under the direction of President Franklin S. Harris. It was the first college of fine arts west of the Mississippi. Dr. de Jong served as the dean of the college until 1960 and during his tenure impacted the lives of hundreds of students.

The Brigham Young University Archives holds a number of materials that document the life of Dr. de Jong. A description of some of these resources is available here.

Other materials documenting Dr. de Jong’s influence at the university include:

• UA OH 33 Gerrit de Jong Oral history interview, 1978. Interview includes relections on de Jong’s experiences at Brigham Young University.
• UA 286 Gerrit de Jong papers. Collection includes a typewritten report to Ernest L. Wilkinson concerning the participation of Brigham Young University musical groups in the dedicatory services of the Mormon Memorial Cemetery and Mormon Bridge in Omaha, Nebraska.
• BX 8647 .B76 1952-53 no.1-58 Art and life. An address given to the Brigham Young University student boy in 1953.

If you would like to know more about the resources available for studying the life of Gerrit de Jong, Jr., please contact the University Archivist at (801) 422-5821 or gordon_daines@byu.edu