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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 23 Collections and/or Records:

Centennial Committee records on Centennial Carillon Tower, 1974

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains materials related to the purchase and installation of the Carillon Tower on campus. Dated 1974.

Dates: 1974

Ernest L. Wilkinson financial papers, 1938-1967

 Sub-Series — Box 75: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197230192699], Folder: 1-5
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Contains accounts information and financial records for Wilkinson. Materials date from between 1938 and 1967.

Dates: 1938-1967

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on fund raising, 1954-1972

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and financial records related to university and church-related fund raising efforts. Materials date from between 1954 and 1972.

Dates: 1954-1972

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on Inwood Manor, 1962-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, financial records, and other material relating to Inwood Manor. Materials date from between 1962 and 1978.

Dates: 1962-1978

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on National Right to Work Committee, 1969-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, financial records, and other materials related to the National Right to Work Committee. Materials date from bewteen 1969 and 1978.

Dates: 1969-1978

Ernest L. Wilkinson personal files, 1875-1978

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents note

Contains various personal files of Ernest L. Wilkinson, including papers on KSL, family, and fund-raising. Also includes financial records and chronologically arranged correspondence. Involves subjects such as Deseret News, the Junior College Program, and Board of Trustees minutes, along with other material. Dated 1923-1978.

Dates: 1875-1978

Office of the President records, 1949-1956

 Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including staff, faculty, students, finance, and higher education in Utah and the United States. Dates of record keeping from 1949 to 1956.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1949-1956

Office of the President records, 1949-1965

 Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8
Scope and Contents

Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including the Church School System, federal aid, finance, enrollment statistics, and general correspondence between administration. Dates of record keeping from 1949 to 1965.

Dates: 1949-1965

Office of the President records, 1965-1967

 Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9
Scope and Contents

Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including the Church School System, federal aid, finance, enrollment statistics, and general correspondence between administration. Dates of record keeping from 1965 to 1967.

Dates: 1965-1967

Office of the President records, 1959-1966

 Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7
Scope and Contents

Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including the Church School System, federal aid, finance, enrollment statistics, and general correspondence between administration. Dates of record keeping from 1959 to 1966.

Dates: 1959-1966