Skip to main content

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 196 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on academics, 1972

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 15 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, policy and procedures, correspondence, and news clippings on academics at Brigham Young University. Includes material on topics such as admissions, alumni, athletics, the library, and university standards. Dated 1972.

Dates: 1972

Office of the President records on administration, 1968

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 11 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other members of BYU administration as well as reports on BYU activity. Also contains sections on administrative councils and budgets for BYU departments. Dated 1968.

Dates: 1968

Office of the President records on administration, 1969

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 12 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other members of BYU administration as well as reports on BYU activity. Also contains sections on administrative councils and budgets for BYU departments. Dated 1969.

Dates: 1969

Office of the President records on administration, 1970

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 13 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Conatains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson, of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, policy and procedures, minutes, and newsclippings regarding administrative matters such as committees, councils, associations, faculty and staff, campus activities, university publications, university policies, academic departments, and finances. Dated 1970.

Dates: 1970

Office of the President records on administration, 1965-1971

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 14 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, minutes, agendas, correspondence, articles, and newsclippings on the administration of Brigham Young University. Includes material on topics such as the Exectutive Committee, other committees, the Board of Directors, student matters and incidents, student government, faculty management, finanaces, campus activities, and individual correspondence. Dated 1965-1971.

Dates: 1965-1971

Office of the President records on administration, 1972

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 15 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, and news clippings on the administration of Brigham Young University. Includes material on Dallin H. Oaks, correspondence with individuals, and students. Dated 1972.

Dates: 1972

Office of the President records on administration, 1973

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 16 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, news clippings, and other materials on the administration of Brigham Young University. Includes material on topics such as faculty, secretaries, correspondence with individuals, admissions, and the Daily Universe. Dated 1973.

Dates: 1973

Office of the President records on associations, 1968

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 11 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains lists of BYU approved organizations, reports and news clippings on BYU alumni activity, memos from President Wilkinson about Aspen Grove, and minutes and reports on the discoveries of the New Wrld Archaeological Foundation. Dated 1968.

Dates: 1968

Office of the President records on associations , 1969

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 12 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, other BYU administrators and members of academic educational associations. Also contains reports of association activity, conferences and finances. Dated 1969.

Dates: 1969

Office of the President records on associations, 1969

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 12 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between BYU officials and alumni discussing alumni budgets, activities at Aspen Grove, and Founders Day celebrations. Also contains reports and articles produced by the New World Archaeology Foundation. Dated 1969.

Dates: 1969