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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 9 Collections and/or Records:

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
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1124, Centennial Committee records

Heber G. Wolsey files on athletic relations with University of Washington (re: the Black Issue), 1970-1971

 Series
Identifier: UA 917 Series 2
Scope and Contents note

Contains various files and records.

Dates: Other: 1970-1971
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 917, Heber G. Wolsey Administrative Council records

Office of the President records on African Americans, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 56
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, clippings and articles about the Church's stance toward African American members. One article addressed the problem this stance could cause for Governor Romney's political career. Another was written by former BYU student Jeff Nye and criticized the Church for its policies toward African Americans. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on associations, 1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, reports and clippings about the BYU Women's Club, intruders at Aspen Grove, and the New World Archaeological Foundation (NFAW). Also contains a single letter of condolance as well as reports and articles on Mesoamerican archaeological excavations. Dated 1965.

Dates: 1965
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on human interest, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 45
Scope and Contents

Contains written human interest stories about BYU students as well as memos and clippings of articles. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Indian Program, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 46
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports, article and clippings about Native Americans at BYU and in the Indian Program. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on public relations, 1968

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 11 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others about BYU's public image and relationship wit other universities. Also contains articles and news clippings about BYU and other universities. Dated 1968.

Dates: 1968
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on United Nations, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 79
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and BYU faculty about the United Nations. Also contains clippings and articles about the United Nations. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Vontella Kimball, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 50
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson about articles. Also contains articles and clippings about Vontella Kimball. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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