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 568 Collections and/or Records:
Ernest L. Wilkinson correspondence and minutes, 1962-1969
Contains minutes, reports, and other material by Wilkinson, dating from 1962 to 1969.
Ernest L. Wilkinson diaries, 1952-1977
Contains diaries and schedules of Wilkinson, covering the period from 1952 to 1977.
Ernest L. Wilkinson financial papers, 1938-1967
Contains accounts information and financial records for Wilkinson. Materials date from between 1938 and 1967.
Ernest L. Wilkinson loose scrapbooks, 1917-1975
Contains scrapbooks of Wilkinson. Materials date from 1917 to 1975.
Ernest L. Wilkinson miscellaneous files, 1923-1975
Contains correspondence, editorials, notes, and other items related to Wilkinson's career. Materials date from between 1923 and 1975.
Ernest L. Wilkinson notes from George Washington University Law School, 1923-1929
Contains Wilkinson's notes from George Washington University Law School. Materials date from between 1923 and 1929.
Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on Deseret News, 1936-1978
Contains correspondence, memos, and other materials related to the Deseret News. Papers date from between 1936 and 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on family, 1971-1978
Contains correspondence and other material related to the Wilkinson family. Papers date from bewteen 1971 and 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on fund raising, 1954-1972
Contains correspondence and financial records related to university and church-related fund raising efforts. Materials date from between 1954 and 1972.
Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on Inwood Manor, 1962-1978
Contains correspondence, financial records, and other material relating to Inwood Manor. Materials date from between 1962 and 1978.