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 298 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on BYU Women, 1963
Contians letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others about honoring Mormon women. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on Catholic Church, 1951
Correspondence regarding obtaining a copy of the Pope's address on the topic of birth control, as well as the article. Also includes correspondence regarding Catholic student's requirements. Dated 1951.
Office of the President records on Catholic Church, 1959-1962
Contains letters, memos and clippings discussing the growth of the Catholic church and ex-catholic priests. Dated 1959 to 1962.
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1949-1957
Correspondence between Ernest L. Wilkinson and local and general authority Church leaders concerning seminaries, institutes, student wards, events, etc. Dated 1949 to 1957.
Office of the President records on Church organizations , 1965
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations such as missions and auxiliaries. Dated 1964-1965.
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1964-1965
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations. Dated 1964 to 1965.
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1952-1958
Consists mainly of letters and memos conncerning organizations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as University events and issues. Also contains reports about the church and its relations with Utah county and BYU. Dated 1952 to 1958.
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1951-1963
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and general authorities from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Topics included various BYU and church issues. Dated 1951 to 1963.
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1962-1963
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations. Dated 1962 to 1963.
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1958-1960
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, BYU administrators, and General Authorities discussing Church organization such as missions and stakes. Dated 1959.