Wilkinson, Ernest L., 1899-1978
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, 1971Deem, 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 11 Collections and/or Records:
Centennial Committee chronological records, 1973-1976
Contains correspondence and memorandums on a variety of subjects organized by date. Dates from 1973-1976.
Centennial Committee miscellaneous records, 1973-1976
An ecclectic accumulation of Centennial Committee files, with event information, vignettes, drawings, photographs, and meeting minutes. Dated 1973-1976.
Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers, 1917-1978
Contains various personal papers of Ernest L. Wilkinson, including a biography, notes from law school and Wilkinson's 1964 senate campaign, personal correspondence and diaries. Dated from 1923 to 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson scrapbooks, certificates, and other material, 1917-1978
Contains oversized scrapbooks, certificates, artifacts and other material related to Wilkinson. Also includes transparencies depicting Inwood Manor. Materials date from between 1917 and 1978.
Heber G. Wolsey policy, procedure and correspondence files, 1957-1971
Contains various files and records.
Public Communications records on student protest and campus disorders, 1968-1971
Contains information about student protests and campus disorders in the United States from 1968 to 1971.
University Relations Division records on distinguished visitors and honors recipients, 1951-1974
Information related to distinguished visitors to BYU and honors recipients from 1951 to 1974, sorted alphabetically.
University Relations Division records on forum speakers, 1952-1977
Files of forum speakers from 1952-1977.
University Relations Division records on lyceums, 1949-1979
Contains news releases, biographical information, and other ephemera related to visiting concert artists from 1949 to 1979.
University Relations Division reference file on race relations, 1963-1973
Contains materials from the Public Communications Department and the tenure of Edwin Butterworth as the director. Includes correspondence, minutes, financial records, and other materials relating to the operation of the University's news bureau and public relations. Also contains copies of news clippings and articles concerning the University and various issues attached to the University. Contains Lyceum files and VIP files.