Wilkinson, Ernest L., 1899-1978
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, 1971Deem, 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 32 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on public relations, 1951-1961
Contains letters, memos and reports on the subjects of BYU alumni, speakers at public events, public relations and press, and fund raising. Dated 1951 to 1961.
Office of the President records on publications, 1956-1958
Contains copies of BYU publications such as campus bulletins, the Daily Universe, and BYU catalogs as well as memos and letters discussing these publications. Dated 1956 to 1958.
Office of the President records on publicity, 1956-1958
Contains letters and memorandums to and from President Wilkinson on the topic of articles written about BYU and other forms of university publicity. Dated 1956 to 1958.
Office of the President records on recommendations, 1955-1960
Contains letters and memos to and from President Wilkinson. They are letters of recommendations for BYU students as well as proposals recommending the use of funds for special projects. Dated 1955 to 1960.
Office of the President records on retirement, 1957-1958
Contains letters and memorandums from BYU staff members discussing the BYU retirement plan. Dated 1957 to 1958.
Office of the President records on Salt Lake Theatre, 1956-1958
Contains letters and memorandums inquiring about the state of the BYU and University of Utah theater facilities. Also contains photocopies of clippings and reports about theater facilities. Dated 1956 to 1958.
Office of the President records on scheduling, 1956-1958
Contains minutes of meetings and memorandums concerning the scheduling of BYU faculty meetings and BYU classes. Dated 1956 to 1958.
Office of the President records on schools of Pacific, 1951-1958
Contains letters and memos rearding teachers, students, and expenses of the Church schools in Hawaii, as well as organizing trips of President Wilkinson to the Pacific. Dated 1951 to 1958.
Office of the President records on students, 1953-1959
Contains letters and memos to and from President Wilkinson, addressing student life, events and services available at BYU. Dated 1953 to 1959.
Office of the President records on television and radio, 1956-1958
Contains letters and memos to and from president Wilkinson discussing which programs to broadcast on the BYU news and TV networks. Dated 1956 to 1958.