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 36 Collections and/or Records:
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, 1951-1956
Consists of reports, correspondence and memos concerning the television industry. Mainly dealing with the Utah Educational Television Foundation and studies on the effects of televison on education.
Office of the President records on universities, 1956-1958
Contains memos and letters concerning operations of and realationships with universitites in Idaho, Montana, and Utah. Dated 1956 to 1958.
Office of the President records on universities, 1939-1956
Contains letters, memorandums, reports and assorted other materials concerning universities. Contains materials which compare and contrast programs and enrollment of the University of Utah, Utah State Agricultural College, and BYU. Also includes reports from the Utah legislative Council which describe higher education in Utah. Dated 1939 to 1956.
Office of the President records on university standards, 1958
Contains copies of a 1950 tentative statement of purpose for BYU as well as copies of letters and memorandums concerning standards of behavior at BYU. Materials dated 1958.
Office of the President records on William P. Knecht, 1961-1962
Contains memos and letters between President Wilkinson and William Knecht, an alumnus of BYU and MIT, discussing ideas for the Church School System. Dated 1961 to 1962.