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 290 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on proposed college in Hawaii, 1951-1957
Contains letters, memorandums and reports from 1951 to 1957. The materials pertain to the proposed buillding of a junior college in Laie, Hawaii.
Office of the President records on public relations, 1951-1956
Materials on public relations, including letters, memorandums, reports, brochures regarding publications, press, radio and TV, fundraising, research, alumni, and councils, all relating to the university's image and relationships with others. Dated 1951 to 1956.
Office of the President records on public relations, 1959
Contains letters and memorandums from BYU faculty and staff about BYU's public relations and portrayal in the media. Dated 1959.
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 public relations, 1966
Contians letters, memorandums, brochures, and reports about how BYU is protrayed in the media, as well as a variety of topics such as public obscenity isssues and introductions to new BYU students. Dated 1966.
Office of the President records on public relations, 1967
Contains letters, memos and reports on BYU's public relations and portrayal in the media. Also contains memos and letters between President Wilkinson and leadrship at other schools discussing comapring these universities to BYU. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on publicity, 1956-1958
Contains letters and memorandums to and from President Wilkinson on the topic of articles written about BYU and other forms of university publicity. Dated 1956 to 1958.
Office of the President records on recommendations, 1955-1960
Contains letters and memos to and from President Wilkinson. They are letters of recommendations for BYU students as well as proposals recommending the use of funds for special projects. Dated 1955 to 1960.
Office of the President records on records on travel, 1956
Contains travel brochures, letters and memorandums dated 1956. The letters and memorandums concern organizing travel plans for BYU faculty and staff as well as organizing college credits for students who participated in BYU travel programs.