Clarissa A. Beesley
Born: 13 November 1878
Called as Second Counselor in the Young Women's General Presidency: 1929
Released: 1937
Died: 7 July 1974
Called as Second Counselor in the Young Women's General Presidency: 1929
Released: 1937
Died: 7 July 1974
Biographical Articles
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Young Woman's Magazine, February 1912, Clarissa A. Beesley
Young Woman's Magazine, August 1914, Change in the Personnel of the General Board
Young Woman's Magazine, May 1929, Clarissa A. Beesley
Young Woman's Magazine, February 1912, Clarissa A. Beesley
Young Woman's Magazine, August 1914, Change in the Personnel of the General Board
Young Woman's Magazine, May 1929, Clarissa A. Beesley
Jenson, Andrew. "Beesley, Clarissa A." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 4. pg. 252-253.
BEESLEY, Clarissa A., second counselor in the general presidency of the Y. W. M. I. A., was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Ebenezer Beesley and Annie Frewin Buckeridge. She was baptized Aug. 4, 1887, by Wm. Hymas, at Liberty, Idaho, participated in the Salt Lake City 16th Ward Church activities, particularly in those of the M. I. A.; became ward president of the Y. L. M. I. A. at the age of seventeen, and later was made stake secretary and stake president of this organization. During 1910- 1911 she filled a mission to the Central States. Upon returning she was called to the General Board of the Y. L. M. I. A., in January, 1912. She served as general secretary from 1914 to 1929, as associate editor of the "Young Woman's Journal" from 1914 to 1923, and as editor from 1923 to 1929. In April, 1929, she was chosen second counselor to Pres. Ruth May Fox. Sister Beesley is a graduate of the University of Utah and was a teacher in the Salt Lake City schools until called into the general office of the M. I. A. in 1914. She has traveled extensively for the organization and assisted in the preparation or editing of most of the M. I. A. publications during the past twenty years.
BEESLEY, Clarissa A., second counselor in the general presidency of the Y. W. M. I. A., was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Ebenezer Beesley and Annie Frewin Buckeridge. She was baptized Aug. 4, 1887, by Wm. Hymas, at Liberty, Idaho, participated in the Salt Lake City 16th Ward Church activities, particularly in those of the M. I. A.; became ward president of the Y. L. M. I. A. at the age of seventeen, and later was made stake secretary and stake president of this organization. During 1910- 1911 she filled a mission to the Central States. Upon returning she was called to the General Board of the Y. L. M. I. A., in January, 1912. She served as general secretary from 1914 to 1929, as associate editor of the "Young Woman's Journal" from 1914 to 1923, and as editor from 1923 to 1929. In April, 1929, she was chosen second counselor to Pres. Ruth May Fox. Sister Beesley is a graduate of the University of Utah and was a teacher in the Salt Lake City schools until called into the general office of the M. I. A. in 1914. She has traveled extensively for the organization and assisted in the preparation or editing of most of the M. I. A. publications during the past twenty years.
"Clarissa A. Beesley." Young Woman's Journal. February 1912. pg. 99.
Clarissa A. Beesley.
We are glad to announce that Miss Clarissa A. Beesley has been selected as an aid on the General Board of the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association. Sister Beesley is qualified to serve well in her new position. She comes with an experience gained through long experience in the Mutual Improvement work. For eight years she was President of the Sixteenth ward Y. L. M. I. A.; she was the efficient secretary of the Salt Lake Stake for four years; and was president of that Stake for one and one- half years.
Sister Beesley has just returned from a mission to the Central States. She labored for twenty-two months in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Kelsey, Texas. She also worked for a short time in the office of the Liahona, at Independence.
Though quiet and unassuming, she is endowed with great mental and spiritual strength.
In her future visits among the stakes, our officers will find in her knowledge and loving sympathy that will help them in their work.
Clarissa A. Beesley.
We are glad to announce that Miss Clarissa A. Beesley has been selected as an aid on the General Board of the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association. Sister Beesley is qualified to serve well in her new position. She comes with an experience gained through long experience in the Mutual Improvement work. For eight years she was President of the Sixteenth ward Y. L. M. I. A.; she was the efficient secretary of the Salt Lake Stake for four years; and was president of that Stake for one and one- half years.
Sister Beesley has just returned from a mission to the Central States. She labored for twenty-two months in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Kelsey, Texas. She also worked for a short time in the office of the Liahona, at Independence.
Though quiet and unassuming, she is endowed with great mental and spiritual strength.
In her future visits among the stakes, our officers will find in her knowledge and loving sympathy that will help them in their work.
"Change in the Personnel of the General Board." Young Woman's Journal. August 1914. pg. 511-512.
Change in the Personnel of the General Board. The rapid growth of our Mutual Improvement work necessitates occasional changes in and additions to the personnel of the General Board. The large number of new stakes created in recent years—and the introduction of special activities into our associations have added greatly to the work of the General Secretary. It has. therefore, been found advisable to divide the responsibilities of this office. Sister Joan Campbell who was chosen in 1894 to be our Recording Secretary and who gave her best efforts to the work—has, since the retirement of Sister Ann M. Cannon, four years ago, been our General Secretary. So well known is Sister Campbell as a faithful pains-taking conscientious worker as to need no further word from us; except sincere appreciation for the service she has given. Sister Campbell will now resume her former duties as Recording Secretary. Sister Clarissa A. Beesley, our new General Secretary is especially fitted for the duties of her position because of her previous training and experience. For four years she was secretary of the Salt Lake Stake Mutual Improvement Association and at the time was considered by our General Secretary, to be one of the most accurate and efficient in the Church. In addition to this, her experience as a presiding officer in both stake and ward capacity, as a missionary in the field, as chairman of our guide committee and as a teacher in the public schools of Salt Lake City have developed in her a broad and sympathetic understanding of the work to which she is now called. We are assured that through her efforts a new impetus and greater uplift will be given to the Mutual Improvement cause. Sister Mabel M. Cooper, our Assistant Musical Director, is from Pioneer Stake. She has had a varied musical experience as leader in ward choirs, choruses and operas. From girlhood she has been a member of the Tabernacle Choir and has gone as contralto soloist on several of its many trips. Sister Cooper has been stake chorister in Pioneer Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association since the division of the old Salt Lake Stake. An earnest and efficient worker, the last few years she has been especially interested in these phases of Mutual Improvement—the betterment of our music in religious meetings, the development of musical talent in the wards, the recreation of the youth—especially their dancing, the spread of “First Aid” information. In all these divisions of our work we shall find help from this new member of the General Board. Sister Charlotte Stewart, daughter of the late William M. Stewart, has, by right of birth, an interest in the development of the young. Her father counted her one of his most understanding supporters in his educational work at the State University. She is a graduate of the University of Utah. In the Mutual Improvement Association, Sister Stewart has had experience both in ward and stake. She has had charge of the Ensign Stake summer work and has been largely instrumental in their successful campfire plans. Sister Stewart is an advocate and teacher of Physical Education. She was head of this department for women in the Utah Agricultural College, two years; director of Physical Education in the public schools of Salt Lake City, two years, and is now at the Salt Lake High School. As an aid to the General Board Sister Stewart will often be called upon to use this very definite knowledge. We welcome this new member. |
Joan Campbell
Clarissa A. Beesley
Mabel M. Cooper
Charlotte Stewart
|
Kimball, Mary C. "Clarissa A. Beesley." Young Woman's Journal. May 1929. pg. 320-322.
Clarissa A. Beesley
By Mary C. Kimball
IT is a wonderful blessing to be devoted to a great cause and to have the privilege of spending one’s time and energies and talents in furthering its interests. Clarissa A. Beesley from her girlhood has loved the Mutual Improvement work with a devotion that has almost excluded other interests. She has worked in all lines of its activities. She has thought of it, dreamed of it, worked for it.
Clarissa was born of goodly parents and was raised according to Gospel standards. Her father, Ebenezer Beesley, played an important role in the musical life of the people in early days, as he was for years Conductor of the Tabernacle Choir. He played in the Salt Lake Theatre Orchestra under George Careless, taught music, and wrote many of the selections that now appear in the Sunday School Song Book and in the Psalmody. Two of his best known compositions are “Kind Words Are Sweet Tones of the Heart” and “High on the Mountain Top.” Her mother had phenomenal faith in the Gospel. She was baptized into the Church when eight years of age, the only member in the village. When twenty-three she left her parents, her friends, her native land to come to Zion. She taught her children to be honest, dependable, earnest and to have Gospel living as the big purpose in life. She made it a practice to discuss with her children the sermons preached by the leaders of the Church and to sing with them the Latter-day Saint songs: thus did they learn much of the Gospel. They enjoyed the closest companionship and her love and devotion called forth the most tender and loving response from her daughter.
Clarissa has always taken a prominent part in Church activities. Her former Bishop says, “I can say only good things of her. She was always active in the Ward. She was popular with the young people. She had good control and when teaching she could always get the attention of unruly boys and girls.”
She has been engaged continuously in Church service from her early girlhood days to the present, first teaching in the Sunday School of the Sixteenth Ward, then adding to her work the duties of Secretary in the Primary Association. From this work she was released to become assistant secretary of the Y. L. M. I. A. of the Sixteenth Ward. When only seventeen she was made President and served in that capacity for eight years. She was Secretary of the Salt Lake Stake for four years and was rated by the General Secretary as one of the most accurate and efficient secretaries in the Church. For one and a half years she acted as President of the Salt Lake Stake when she was released to fill a mission to the Central States. For a short time she was in the office of the Liahona at Independence, following which she labored for twenty months in St. Louis. Kansas City, and Kelsey, Texas.
Her Mission President writes: “She endeared herself to the people of Kelsey so that they have never forgotten her; she helped to mold the minds of boys and girls in the auxiliary organizations of the Church in a spiritual way as well as by teaching them the routine of school work. She made a splendid record as a missionary, faithfully serving in the work of the Lord and being most successful in the planting of faith in the hearts of the children of men. At the time she was called into the mission field she was fully qualified as a teacher of the Gospel. She came with a testimony of it and began her work in an earnest way from the beginning of her experience in the field.”
Previous to this Sister Beesley had enjoyed laboring as a missionary on the Temple Block. She was there the first morning this mission opened and labored until she left for the Central States.
In January, 1912, Sister Beesley was called to the General Board and in 1914 she was made General Secretary, in which position she has proved most efficient. Almost never do her minutes require the slightest change or correction. She has familiarized herself with all details of the work. All members of the Board have gone to her for help and have found her ever ready to explain and give the needed information.
Sister Beesley is a graduate of the Salt Lake High School and from the Normal Department of the University of Utah. For a number of years she taught in the Public Schools of Sall Lake City. Teaching ability is one of her marked gifts.
Literature may be said to be her hobby. She deeply enjoys reading. From her gifted father she inherits appreciation for music as did many of his descendants who are engaged in musical activity.
She is also a clear writer. She was Associate Editor of the Young Woman's Journal for ten years and for five years was its Editor. She has written many lessons and editorials, and the messages to officers that have been such a help to all connected with Mutual Improvement are largely the work of her pen.
When the first Leadership Training Courses were given by the General Board, in 1914, she had the privilege of visiting nearly all the Church Schools, where three day Institutes were held, thus meeting the officers from many localities. Since that time she has visited all of the stakes except eight.
She has attended one Biennial Session of the National Council of Women held in New' York and one Executive Session held in Philadelphia.
Sister Beesley is a hard worker and extremely conscientious. She never imposes on any one and is always willing to carry more than her share of the work. She is particular in attending to the slightest detail. She is unassuming and modest, never seeking to push herself forward. She is loyal to her friends and rejoices in every success that comes to them. She deeply appreciates the abilities of those with whom she mingles and is grateful for kindnesses extended to her.
With an abiding testimony of the Gospel, fitted by long training and a thorough knowledge of the work, Sister Beesley now takes up her labors as Second Counselor to President Ruth May Fox. She says the greatest joy that has come to her in her General Board work has been her contact with the stake and ward officers. Her new position thrills her not because of the honor it carries but because she sees in it greater opportunities for service in the cause she loves.
Sweet modesty and gentle grace
Her steps display;
Rejoicing in His blessed story,
His holy ray
Illum’es her mind to vivid understanding.
And leads the way
To greater heights of glory.
Clarissa A. Beesley
By Mary C. Kimball
IT is a wonderful blessing to be devoted to a great cause and to have the privilege of spending one’s time and energies and talents in furthering its interests. Clarissa A. Beesley from her girlhood has loved the Mutual Improvement work with a devotion that has almost excluded other interests. She has worked in all lines of its activities. She has thought of it, dreamed of it, worked for it.
Clarissa was born of goodly parents and was raised according to Gospel standards. Her father, Ebenezer Beesley, played an important role in the musical life of the people in early days, as he was for years Conductor of the Tabernacle Choir. He played in the Salt Lake Theatre Orchestra under George Careless, taught music, and wrote many of the selections that now appear in the Sunday School Song Book and in the Psalmody. Two of his best known compositions are “Kind Words Are Sweet Tones of the Heart” and “High on the Mountain Top.” Her mother had phenomenal faith in the Gospel. She was baptized into the Church when eight years of age, the only member in the village. When twenty-three she left her parents, her friends, her native land to come to Zion. She taught her children to be honest, dependable, earnest and to have Gospel living as the big purpose in life. She made it a practice to discuss with her children the sermons preached by the leaders of the Church and to sing with them the Latter-day Saint songs: thus did they learn much of the Gospel. They enjoyed the closest companionship and her love and devotion called forth the most tender and loving response from her daughter.
Clarissa has always taken a prominent part in Church activities. Her former Bishop says, “I can say only good things of her. She was always active in the Ward. She was popular with the young people. She had good control and when teaching she could always get the attention of unruly boys and girls.”
She has been engaged continuously in Church service from her early girlhood days to the present, first teaching in the Sunday School of the Sixteenth Ward, then adding to her work the duties of Secretary in the Primary Association. From this work she was released to become assistant secretary of the Y. L. M. I. A. of the Sixteenth Ward. When only seventeen she was made President and served in that capacity for eight years. She was Secretary of the Salt Lake Stake for four years and was rated by the General Secretary as one of the most accurate and efficient secretaries in the Church. For one and a half years she acted as President of the Salt Lake Stake when she was released to fill a mission to the Central States. For a short time she was in the office of the Liahona at Independence, following which she labored for twenty months in St. Louis. Kansas City, and Kelsey, Texas.
Her Mission President writes: “She endeared herself to the people of Kelsey so that they have never forgotten her; she helped to mold the minds of boys and girls in the auxiliary organizations of the Church in a spiritual way as well as by teaching them the routine of school work. She made a splendid record as a missionary, faithfully serving in the work of the Lord and being most successful in the planting of faith in the hearts of the children of men. At the time she was called into the mission field she was fully qualified as a teacher of the Gospel. She came with a testimony of it and began her work in an earnest way from the beginning of her experience in the field.”
Previous to this Sister Beesley had enjoyed laboring as a missionary on the Temple Block. She was there the first morning this mission opened and labored until she left for the Central States.
In January, 1912, Sister Beesley was called to the General Board and in 1914 she was made General Secretary, in which position she has proved most efficient. Almost never do her minutes require the slightest change or correction. She has familiarized herself with all details of the work. All members of the Board have gone to her for help and have found her ever ready to explain and give the needed information.
Sister Beesley is a graduate of the Salt Lake High School and from the Normal Department of the University of Utah. For a number of years she taught in the Public Schools of Sall Lake City. Teaching ability is one of her marked gifts.
Literature may be said to be her hobby. She deeply enjoys reading. From her gifted father she inherits appreciation for music as did many of his descendants who are engaged in musical activity.
She is also a clear writer. She was Associate Editor of the Young Woman's Journal for ten years and for five years was its Editor. She has written many lessons and editorials, and the messages to officers that have been such a help to all connected with Mutual Improvement are largely the work of her pen.
When the first Leadership Training Courses were given by the General Board, in 1914, she had the privilege of visiting nearly all the Church Schools, where three day Institutes were held, thus meeting the officers from many localities. Since that time she has visited all of the stakes except eight.
She has attended one Biennial Session of the National Council of Women held in New' York and one Executive Session held in Philadelphia.
Sister Beesley is a hard worker and extremely conscientious. She never imposes on any one and is always willing to carry more than her share of the work. She is particular in attending to the slightest detail. She is unassuming and modest, never seeking to push herself forward. She is loyal to her friends and rejoices in every success that comes to them. She deeply appreciates the abilities of those with whom she mingles and is grateful for kindnesses extended to her.
With an abiding testimony of the Gospel, fitted by long training and a thorough knowledge of the work, Sister Beesley now takes up her labors as Second Counselor to President Ruth May Fox. She says the greatest joy that has come to her in her General Board work has been her contact with the stake and ward officers. Her new position thrills her not because of the honor it carries but because she sees in it greater opportunities for service in the cause she loves.
Sweet modesty and gentle grace
Her steps display;
Rejoicing in His blessed story,
His holy ray
Illum’es her mind to vivid understanding.
And leads the way
To greater heights of glory.