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 50 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on Indian program, 1967
Cotains letters and memos about students in BYU's Indian Program, scholarships, and education. Also contians a program for A Dawn in the Forest. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on inquiries, 1952-1956
Contains letters regarding inquiries to the Office of the President. Dated 1952 to 1956.
Office of the President records on investments, 1954-1958
Contains letters, memorandums and reports concerning tuition, the BYU investment committee, and the use of funds. Dated 1954 to 1958.
Office of the President records on Iran, 1951-1955
Contains correspondence between General Authorities, government officials, and BYU from 1951 to 1955. The correspondence pertains to BYU's involvement in the United States' Four Point program in Iran.
Office of the President records on J. Bracken Lee, 1953-1956
Contains news clippings, letters, memorandums and reports from 1953 to 1956 concerning Utah Governor Joseph Bracken Lee.
Office of the President records on Karl G. Maeser, 1952-1955
Correspondence about a book written by Alma P. Burton about Karl G. Maeser. Also included are lists describing some of the work done by Maeser. The letters discuss the distribution of the books as well as the editing. Dated 1952 to 1955.
Office of the President records on Physical Plant, 1966-1967
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others discussing the physical plant of BYU. Topics include roads, safety, traffic, and more. Includes reports on the construction of new facilities as well as the upkeep of old ones. Dated 1967.
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 research, 1966-1967
Contains proposals for a BYU research facilities and research projects, articles of incorporation for the Kow-ina Cultural Research Foundation, a contract between BYU and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, and various memos, proposals and reports about research. Dated 1966-1967.
Office of the President records on Rocky Mountain Assembly, 1963
Contians memos between President Wilkinson and others discussing the finances and planning for the Rocky Mountain Assembly at BYU. Also contains a questionnaire asking participants to rate the Assembly. Dated 1963.