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Wilkinson, Ernest L., 1899-1978

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1899 - 1978

Biographical History

Ernest L. Wilkinson (1899-1978) was a prominent Mormon lawyer and academic administrator. He served as president of Brigham Young University from 1951-1971.

Ernest Leroy Wilkinson was born in Ogden, Utah, on May 4, 1899. He grew up in the outskirts of the city, one of seven children. Ernest enrolled in Weber Academy, and he was characterized by his hardworking nature. He served in the Student Army Training Corps in 1918. He then attended Brigham Young University, where he was very active in student activities and politics. He married Alice Valera Ludlow on August 15, 1923. He attended George Washington University and graduated summa cum laude in 1926. In 1935, he served as a lawyer for the Ute Indian tribes as they successfully gained compensation for land.

Upon being named president of BYU in 1951, Wilkinson proceeded to aggressively expand the university. Under his presidency, BYU grew to the largest private university in the United States. The intellectual standards of BYU also increased dramatically. Even as he contributed to drastic growth in the university, he never accepted a salary. He was replaced by Dallin H. Oaks in 1971. Wilkinson passed away April 6, 1978.

Citation:
His Earnestly yours, 1971

Deem, W.J. Ernest L. Wilkinson, Indian advocate ... 1982: p. 665 (d. 4/6/78)

Wikipedia, Mar. 2, 2011 (Ernest L. Wilkinson; Ernest Leroy Wilkinson; b. May 4, 1899 in Ogden, Utah; American academic administrator; Commission of Church Education for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1953-1970; president of Brigham Young University, 1951-1971; attorney in Washington, D.C. and N.Y.)

Ancestry.com, Mar. 2, 2011 (Ernest L. Wilkinson; Ernest Wilkinson; Ernest Leroy Wilkinson; d. in Salt Lake City, Utah)

Brigham Young University: The First One Hundred Years, 1975: p. 506 (born in Ogden, Utah; one of seven children; grew up on outskirts) p. 508 (enrolled in Weber Academy; hardworking) p. 510 (Student Army Training Corps, 1918; attended Brigham Young University) p. 511 (active in BYU activities) p. 515 (married Alice Ludlow; August 15, 1923) p. 517 (graduated from George Washington University; summa cum laude; 1926) p. 520 (attorney for the Ute Tribe) p. 506 (never accepted a salary)

FamilySearch, May 29, 2014 (Ernest Leroy Wilkinson, "BillionGraves Index"; b. May 4, 1899; d. April 6, 1978)

Office of the President, May 29, 2014 (Ernest L. Wilkinson; served as president from 1951-1971; expanded BYU to nation's largest private university; increased intellectual standards)

Found in 661 Collections and/or Records:

Addresses in honor of Harvey Fletcher

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227331086]
Identifier: UA 129
Scope and Contents

Contains eight typewritten, edited and final drafts of speeches about Fletcher written and given by William L. Woolf and George H. Hansen, a memorandum concerning a speech from Ernest L. Wilkinson to George H. Hansen, a record of Fletcher's professional experience, and biographical information submitted to Who's Who in America.

Dates: approximately 1951-1971

Alumni Association administrative correspondence, 1962 June-December

 Sub-Series — Box 18: Series 12 [Barcode: 31197231024156]
Identifier: UA 541 Series 12 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence related to the administration of the Alumni Association, prepared by Raymond E. Beckham, Ronald G. Hyde, Bruce Gibb, Emily G. Weeks, T. Earl Padoe, DaCosta Clark, George H. Higgs, Carolann Lambert, Scott Bergeson, Ernest L. Wilkinson, and Karlene McBride. Materials date from between June 1962 and December 1962.

Dates: 1962 June-December

Alumni Association administrative correspondence, 1951-1975

 Series — Box 19: Series 12; Series 13; Series 14 [Barcode: 31197231024164], Folder: 13-15
Identifier: UA 541 Series 14
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence produced by Raymond E. Beckham, with letters to and from Ernest Wilkinson, William L. Knecht, and others.

Dates: 1951-1975

Brigham Young University comptroller correspondence

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 878
Scope and Contents

Includes files concerning university budget, the Church School System, campus colleges and departments, faculty, staff, fund-raising, administrative meetings, students, Treasurer's Office, New World Archaeological Foundation, and athletics. Also includes files relative to Church schools in Mexico and in the Pacific, and some of Bentley's personal files. Includes significant amounts of correspondence with Ernest L. Wilkinson (president of BYU) and others.

Dates: 1952-1969

Brigham Young University inaugural speeches and responses

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233274817]
Identifier: UA SC 19
Scope and Contents

Contains only inaugural speeches and responses by presidents Harris, McDonald, Wilkinson, Oaks, Holland, and Lee.

Dates: 1921-1989

Brigham Young University presidential portraits

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5333
Scope and Contents

Contains portraits of the presidents of the university from Warren N. Dusenberry to Merrill J. Bateman, excluding Rex E. Lee's portrait. Materials date from between 1875 and 2003.

Dates: 1875-2003

Centennial Committee centennial guidebook, 1974-1975

 Series — Box 27: Series 11; Series 12; Series 13 [Barcode: 31197224373271], Folder: 1-9
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 11
Scope and Contents

Contains materials from the production of the Centennial guidebook, as well as two copies of the guide in its final form. Dated 1974-1975.

Dates: 1974-1975

Centennial Committee chronological records, 1973-1976

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and memorandums on a variety of subjects organized by date. Dates from 1973-1976.

Dates: 1973-1976

Centennial Committee clippings, 1974-1976

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 6
Scope and Contents

Contains copies of newspaper articles related to centennial events and programming. Dated 1974-1976.

Dates: 1974-1976

Centennial Committee collection on Brigham!, 1976

 Series — Box 27: Series 11; Series 12; Series 13 [Barcode: 31197224373271], Folder: 10-19
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 12
Scope and Contents

Consists of additional documentation from the production of the musical "Brigham!" Dated 1976.

Dates: 1976