Sperry, Sidney B. (Sidney Branton), 1895-1977

Brigham Young University in the 1930's was shaped by the Great Depression. A cutback in the school's budget led to a cut in faculty pay and the school faced the threat of being shut down or turned over to the State of Utah. However, in spite of these obstacles, BYU flourished under the leadership of President Franklin S. Harris. The student enrollment rate continued to rise, and the number of faculty also reached its highest point up to that time. Students at BYU also faced difficulties in trying to live on as little money as possible. However, the student body also adapted and school life for continued with athletic events, debates, and other inexpensive student activities.

From the description of Collection, 1837-1958. (Brigham Young University). WorldCat record id: 51654175

Sidney B. Sperry (Ph. D., University of Chicago) was Professor Emeritus of Religion at Brigham Young University. He was director of the Division of Religion at Brigham Young University and director of Graduate Studies in Religion. He did postdoctoral work in archaeology at the American School of Oriental Research in Jerusalem.

From the description of Photographs, ca. 1950. (Brigham Young University). WorldCat record id: 54427217

Sidney Branton Sperry was born in Salt Lake City on December 26, 1895. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Utah with a major in chemistry and a minor in geology. After his service in WWI, Sperry served in the Southern States as an LDS missionary. Upon returning home, he married Lila Braithewaite on September 1, 1921. Sperry worked for many years in the Church Educational System before joining the religion staff of Brigham Young University in 1932. He taught courses in Old Testament, New Testament, Hebrew, Syriac, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, LDS theology, Church history, Roman history, Greek history, geometry, and mathematics. Dr. Sperry was director of religious instruction at Brigham Young University from 1954 to 1959. He was instrumental in organizing religion courses designed to prepare prospective missionaries. He wrote that he "had the desire and vision that some day it would become spiritually and scholastically the greatest university in the world." During his career he wrote many articles and books on religious topics. He received the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award in 1962.

From the description of Sidney Branton Sperry papers, 1837-1958. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367727240