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 33 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on Mahonri Young, 1963
Contians memos discussing Mahonri Young as well as new clippings from "Church News." Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1959
Contains memos, reports and news clippings about the security of BYU Physical facilities. Dated 1959.
Office of the President records on politics, 1959
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others on the topic of politics. Dated 1959.
Office of the President records on prayer in school, 1963
Contains letters, memos and newspaper clippings addressing the Supreme Court's ruling against prayer in public schools. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on public relations, 1964
Contains letters and memos about BYU public relations. Also contains clippings about BYU. Dated 1964.
Office of the President records on public relations, 1949-1965
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, other BYU staff, visitors to campus, and BYU guest speakers. The topics concerned visits to campus, campus addresses, and how BYU was portrayed in the media. Also contains a collection of clippings about BYU. Dated 1949-1965.
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 state institutions, 1963
Contains clippings as well as letters and reports from a special committee on school finances to the Board of Governors in Salt Lake City about university funds. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on state institutions, 1961-1962
Contains memos, letters, reports and news clippings about the need for school facilities. Dated 1961 to 1962.
Office of the President records on United Nations, 1959-1962
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and BYU faculty about the United Nations. Also contains clippings and articles about the United Nations. Dated 1959 to 1962.