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 motion pictures, 1959-1962
Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson discussing films produced by the BYU motion picture studios as well as films shown on BYU campus. Dated 1959 to 1962.
Office of the President records on motion pictures, 1963
Contians letters, memos and articles about productions of the BYU film studio including The Search For Truth. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on National Thrift Committee, 1963
Contians memos, reports and brochures distributed by the National Thrift Committee aimed at helping people develop frugal habits. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on objectives, 1950-1959
Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including the Church School System, federal aid, finance, enrollment statistics, and general correspondence between administration. Dates of record keeping from 1949 to 1963.
Office of the President records on participation, 1959-1960
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and the heads of various service organizations discussing participation of BYU students in charity events. Dated 1959 to 1960.
Office of the President records on Photo Studio, 1952-1954
Contains receipts and memorandums concerning photographs taken by the BYU photography studio. The photographs are both personal portraits as well as photographs of buildings for campus use, dated 1952 to 1954.
Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1964
Contains letters, memos and reports concerning physical facilities of BYU. Concerns proposals, construction and upkeep of BYU buildings as well as roads, water, and other Provo infrastructure. Dated 1964.
Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1954-1963
Contains memos and letters to and from President Wilkinson on the topic of use and upkeep of physical buildings around BYU campus. Also contains reports on program requirements for future buildings on BYU campus. Dated 1954 to 1963.
Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1959-1963
Contains memos and letters to and from President Wilkinson on the topic of use and upkeep of physical buildings around BYU campus. Also contains cost proposals for new buildings. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1965
Contains letters, memos and reports concerning physical facilities of BYU. Concerns proposals, construction and upkeep of BYU buildings as well as security, roads, water, and other Provo infrastructure. Dated 1965.