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 445 Collections and/or Records:
Alumni Association administrative correspondence, 1962 June-December
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.
Alumni Association administrative correspondence, 1951-1975
Contains correspondence produced by Raymond E. Beckham, with letters to and from Ernest Wilkinson, William L. Knecht, and others.
Centennial Committee chronological records, 1973-1976
Contains correspondence and memorandums on a variety of subjects organized by date. Dates from 1973-1976.
Centennial Committee event records, 1974-1976
Contains articles, placards, correspondence, and other records dealing with Centennial Celebration luncheons, festivals, conferences, parades, and other events. Dated 1974-1976.
Centennial Committee records on college and departmental events, 1973-1976
Consists of memorandums, meeting minutes, correspondence, and other materials generated as part of planning events and displays to be hosted by various colleges and departments. Dates from 1973-1976.
Centennial History Project administrative records, 1972-1976
Contains correspondence with assorted university staff, research and writing timetables and status reports, assignments, budgets, memoranda, and clippings, relating to the administrative, research, writing, and editing activities of Wilkinson and his staff. Materials date from between 1972 and 1976.
Centennial History Project chronological source files, 1835-1979
Contains source material, including extracts from a variety of sources such as university presidential papers, correspondence, diaries and journals, minutes of various meetings, published sources, personal histories, and reports. Many of the items exhibit annotations of staff members. Materials date from approximately 1835 to 1976.
Centennial History Project director records, 1971-1976
Contains files compiled by Ernest L. Wilkinson, Project Director and Editor of the published histories. Includes correspondence, meeting minutes, memorandums, notes, and other items. Materials date from between 1971 and 1976.
Centennial History Project drafts and correspondence, 1972-1977
Contains drafts and associated correspondence for both the one-volume history and multi-volume history of Brigham Young University. Materials date from between 1972 and 1977.