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 slides of Inwood Manor, approximately 1962-1978
Contains twelve Kodak color slides depicting Inwood Manor. Dated approximately between 1917 and 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson sound recordings from Senate campaign, 1959-1964
Contains audiotapes related to Wilkinson's 1964 campaign for the United States Senate, which include recordings of radio and television appearances. Dated 1959-1964.
Ernest L. Wilkinson speeches, 1921-1978
Contains speeches given by Wilkinson, as well as research materials used in speech preparation. Materials date from between 1921 and 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson subject files, 1952-1970
Contains notes, published items, and reports related to Brigham Young University and higher education. Materials date from between 1952 and 1970.
Ernest Leroy Wilkinson, 1903-1978
Heber G. Wolsey files on athletic relations with University of Washington (re: the Black Issue), 1970-1971
Contains various files and records.
Heber G. Wolsey policy, procedure and correspondence files, 1957-1971
Contains various files and records.
Hugh Nibley academic correspondence, 1940-2002
Contains letters to and from Hugh Nibley including correspondence with Dallin H. Oaks, Russell M. Nelson, Ernest L. Wilkinson, G. Homer Durham, and many other people. The contents are about academic matters. Materials date from 1940 to 2002.
Office of the President annual reports, 1951-1953
University reports divided by departments with departmental needs and statistics of students in specific programs. Submitted job applications also included. Dated 1951 to 1953.
Office of the President charts, 1963
Contians memos and reports about church school enrollment and dropouts. Dated 1963.