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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 39 Collections and/or Records:

Brigham Young University presidential portraits

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5333
Scope and Contents

Contains portraits of the presidents of the university from Warren N. Dusenberry to Merrill J. Bateman, excluding Rex E. Lee's portrait. Materials date from between 1875 and 2003.

Dates: 1875-2003
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Brigham Young University presidential portraits

Centennial Committee records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 1124
Scope and Contents Contains a wide variety of documentation produced and collected by the Centennial Committee. This includes memorandums, meeting minutes, correspondence, publications, photographs, and other materials. These files contain information on most of the events that happened during the Centennial year, as well as various buttons and banners. A significant portion of the collection relates directly to the production of Brigham!, a musical dramatizing the founding and growth of Brigham Young...
Dates: 1973-1976
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Centennial Committee records

Ernest L. Wilkinson artifacts, 1926-1975

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

Contains plaques, graduation gowns, awards, and oversize photographs belonging to Wilkinson. Materials date from between 1926 and 1975.

Dates: 1926-1975
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson scrapbooks, certificates, and other material

Ernest Leroy Wilkinson, 1903-1978

 File — Box 2: [Barcode: 31197223107035], Folder: 3-6
Identifier: UA 946 File 8
Dates: 1903-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 946, Collection of presidential photographs

Glogau photograph of Ernest L. Wilkinson family

 Digital Record
Identifier: UAP2_F201_p201topleft
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

National Council of American Indians records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1704
Scope and Contents Contains correspondence, personal history, and business papers of both Zitkala-S̈a and her husband, Raymond Bonnin, with the bulk focusing on Gertrude's activities. Zitkala-S̈a was a central figure in early twentieth century Indian reform, and this collection reflects her intensive involvement. She was instrumental in legislation favorable to Indians and spent a great deal of her time among the Native Americans in an attempt to educate and organize them for greater strength through unity....
Dates: 1926-1938
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / National Council of American Indians records

Office of the President records on associations, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains the 1966 annual field report from the New World Archaeological Foundation, accompanied by photocopies of photographs and memos. Also contains a letter and memo inviting President Wilkinson to the Credit Union's annual meeting. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966
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 placement, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 26
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs and memorandums about the BYU Placement Bureau. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959
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 students, 1955-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 71
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports to and from President Wilkinson. Topics included individual students and their needs, student government and student health. Dated 1955 to 1963.

Dates: 1955-1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Photograph of a faculty gift to Ernest L. Wilkinson as he left to run for the Senate

 Digital Record
Identifier: UAP2_F240_p240bottom
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

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