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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 661 Collections and/or Records:

Correspondence and reminiscences about Franklin S. Harris administration, 1973-1974

 Sub-Series — Box 138: Series 3; Series 4 [Barcode: 31197232517547], Folder: 1
Identifier: UA 566 Series 3 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and personal reminiscences of Brigham Young University during Franklin S. Harris' time as university president. Materials dated 1973 to 1974.

Dates: 1973-1974
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 566, Centennial History Project records / Centennial History Project source material files

Correspondence : Wilkinson, President Ernest L., 1958-1960

 File — Box 5: Series 4 [Barcode: 31197239116988], Folder: 13
Identifier: UA 510 Series 4
Dates: 1958-1960
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 510, Department of Chemistry records / Department of Chemistry chair records

Ernest L. Wilkinson album and films, 1959-1971

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

Contains films and an album relating to Wilkinson. Materials date from between 1959 and 1971.

Dates: 1959-1971
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson scrapbooks, certificates, and other material

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 L. Wilkinson biography, 1977-1980

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents note

Contains drafts, notes, and correspondence related to Wilkinson's biography prepared by Wilkinson and Glenn V. Bird. Dated 1977-1980.

Dates: 1977-1980
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers

Ernest L. Wilkinson certificates, 1959-1975

 Sub-Series — Box 293: Series 3 [Barcode: 31197231190866]
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains oversized certificates of Wilkinson, dating from between 1959 and 1975.

Dates: 1959-1975
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson scrapbooks, certificates, and other material

Ernest L. Wilkinson correspondence, 1976-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains personal correspondence by Wilkinson, dating from between 1976 and 1978.

Dates: 1976-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal files

Ernest L. Wilkinson correspondence and minutes, 1962-1969

 Series
Identifier: UA 914 Series 13
Scope and Contents

Contains minutes, reports, and other material by Wilkinson, dating from 1962 to 1969.

Dates: 1962-1969
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 914, Administrative Council records

Ernest L. Wilkinson diaries, 1952-1977

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents note

Contains diaries and schedules of Wilkinson, covering the period from 1952 to 1977.

Dates: 1952-1977
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers

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
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1000, Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal files

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