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Wilkinson, Ernest L., 1899-1978

 Person

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, 1971

Deem, 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 143 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1969

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 12 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, Church general authorities, and BYU faculty on the topics of Church schools, curriculum and issues within these schools. Dated 1969.

Dates: 1969

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, Church general authorities, and BYU faculty on the topics of Church schools, proposed Church schools, and curriculum within these schools. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966

Office of the President records on colleges and departments, 1972

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 15 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, programs, and brochures on colleges and departments at Brigham Young University. Includes material on various colleges such as business, fine arts, and religion. Dated 1972.

Dates: 1972

Office of the President records on Extension Division, 1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, BYU staff and general authorities about the Church Extension Division, including BYU satellite programs, Education Week, study abroad programs, and at-home continuing education programs. Also contains curriculum for these programs. Dated 1965.

Dates: 1965

Office of the President records on Extension Division, 1963-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos with President Wilkinson about the BYU extension division. Topics include continuing education, various BYU satellite campuses and education weeks at BYU. Dated 1963 to 1964.

Dates: 1963-1964

Office of the President records on Extension Division, 1958-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 36
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters, brochures and reports from staff in the BYU extension division. The materials pertain to publications, continuing education, and BYU leadership week. Dated 1958 to 1963.

Dates: 1958-1963

Office of the President records on Extension Division, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, BYU staff and general authorities about the Church Extension Division, including BYU satellite programs, Education Week, study abroad programs, and at-hom emcontinuing education programs. Also contains curriculum for these programs. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966

Office of the President records on Indian Program, 1949-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 24
Scope and Contents

Contains correpondence, memos and reports detailing the establishment of the BYU Indian Education Program, dated between 1949 to 1955.

Dates: 1949-1956

Office of the President records on Indian program, 1968

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 11 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and clippings about academics and individuals of the BYU Indian Program as well as memos and letters about Project Head Start. Dated 1968.

Dates: 1968

Office of the President records on inquiries, 1952-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 26
Scope and Contents

Contains letters regarding inquiries to the Office of the President. Dated 1952 to 1956.

Dates: 1952-1956