From Muddy River to the Ivory Tower: The Journey of George H. Brimhall

George H. Brimhall served as president of Brigham Young University as it pivoted from being a general purpose educational institution to being a full-fledged university. This was not without conflict. The school was in danger of being closed numerous times. There were also conflicts with the twin goals of providing secular and religious instruction.

Brimhall attempted to professionalize the school, bringing in professors with advanced degrees (often from the University of Chicago.) Alas, these professors taught concepts like evolution. Brimhall saw a compatibility between the scientific and religious instruction. However, other people did not see it that way. Some students claimed to lose their faith in religion in response to the teachings. The church leadership became involved and requested that they change their teachings or leave the University. Brimhall was devoted to support his religion and relented in dismissing the controversial professors. 

Brimhall's family was directly connected to part of history. His father migrated to Utah, divorcing his first wife who did not want to follow. He remarried in Utah and had a big family. Brimhall's first wife developed mental illness and lived the end of her life in the mental institution. Brimhall then entered into a polygamous marriage with a second wife. This seems to be one of the ideal cases for plural marriage. He fathered a large number of children from his two wives.  He grew up in Utah, though spent time on "mission" trips to explore other parts of the mountain west. He was devoted to creating curriculum for various church organizations and was known for his "short sermons"

Brimhall died in questionable circumstances due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound after suffering from chronic illness. Some tried to explain it as an accidental discharge, though there is no certainty. Was it just the pain of illness that did him in or were there other skeletons in his closet?

The book covers his life, but seems to jump around a bit. Perhaps due to lack of primary sources, there appear to be some gaps in the life history.