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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 10 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on charts, 1960-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 14
Scope and Contents

Contains an index of charts kept in the basement of the Maeser building as well as memos between President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty discussing these charts. Dated 1960 to 1962.

Dates: 1960-1962

Office of the President records on Photo Studio, 1952-1954

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 42
Scope and Contents

Contains receipts and memorandums concerning photographs taken by the BYU photography studio. The photographs are both personal portraits as well as photographs of buildings for campus use, dated 1952 to 1954.

Dates: 1952-1954

Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 15
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports concerning physical facilities of BYU. Concerns proposals, construction and upkeep of BYU buildings as well as roads, water, and other Provo infrastructure. Dated 1964.

Dates: 1964

Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 14
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports concerning physical facilities of BYU. Concerns proposals, construction and upkeep of BYU buildings as well as security, roads, water, and other Provo infrastructure. Dated 1965.

Dates: 1965

Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1959-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 59
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters to and from President Wilkinson on the topic of use and upkeep of physical buildings around BYU campus. Also contains cost proposals for new buildings. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1959-1963

Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1954-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 55
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters to and from President Wilkinson on the topic of use and upkeep of physical buildings around BYU campus. Also contains reports on program requirements for future buildings on BYU campus. Dated 1954 to 1963.

Dates: 1954-1963

Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 25
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, reports and news clippings about the security of BYU Physical facilities. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959

Office of the President records on Physical Plant Department, 1948-1957

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 41
Scope and Contents

Contains reports, correspondence and letters about the physical campus of Brigham Young University, dated 1948 to 1957. The materials concern property acquistion, budgets and proposals for new buildings as well as modifications to existing buildings, and dedication of many buildings, notably many new student residence halls.

Dates: 1948-1957

Office of the President records on Physical Plant Department, 1951-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 42
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memorandums and reports detailing the construction, upkeep and use of facilities on the BYU campus. Dated 1951 to 1958.

Dates: 1951-1958

Scrapbook on Brigham Young University buildings

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233647053]
Identifier: UA 5529
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of Brigham Young University buildings given to David O. McKay by Ernest L. Wilkinson in 1966.

Dates: 1950-1966