Franklin Stewart Harris

From College of Fine Arts and Communications

Franklin S. Harris served as President of Brigham Young University from 1921 to 1945. His administration was the longest in BYU history and oversaw many changes in the University. He helped the school move towards being a full university by establishing several colleges, including the college of Fine and Performing arts, and granting the first masters degrees, and establishing a library in the Heber J. Grant Building.

The Harris Fine Arts Center on BYU Provo’s campus bears his name. His name has also been given to The College of Fine Arts and Communication’s highest honor: The Franklin S. Harris Award.

The Franklin S. Harris Award honors friends of the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University who have:

• Devoted outstanding professional or public service in one of the disciplines taught in the college
  
• Achieved or supported academic and creative excellence, or
  
• Contributed their time, expertise or means to help strengthen the college
  
• and whose values and standards are in harmony with the Mission of BYU and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Award was first presented to Leroy J. Robertson in 1968. Recent recipients include:

James A. Mason (2002)
Howard E. Wall (2003)
Don and Shirley Oscarson (2005)
Bruce L. Olsen (2006)
Kieth Merrill (2007)