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 463 Collections and/or Records:
Heber G. Wolsey files on athletic relations with University of Washington (re: the Black Issue), 1970-1971
Contains various files and records.
Heber G. Wolsey policy, procedure and correspondence files, 1957-1971
Contains various files and records.
Hugh Nibley academic correspondence, 1940-2002
Contains letters to and from Hugh Nibley including correspondence with Dallin H. Oaks, Russell M. Nelson, Ernest L. Wilkinson, G. Homer Durham, and many other people. The contents are about academic matters. Materials date from 1940 to 2002.
Christen Jensen papers
Collection includes correspondence, reports, memoranda, minutes, and examinations concerning Brigham Young University transfer credits, awards, faculty meetings, graduate school, Franklin S. Harris, Ernest L. Wilkinson, history, political science, and public administration.
Letter and newspaper clipping
Two letters and one newspaper clipping. The clipping was published by the Itahca Journal News on 28 July 1962 and relates to the family of Brigham Young (1801-1877) and to the Salt Lake Theatre. One of the letters is from Dorothy Dye to Ernest L. Wilkinson, president of Brigham Young University, relating to the newspaper clipping. The other letter is from Wilkinson to the Brigham Young University Archives also regarding the clipping.
National Council of American Indians records
Office of the President annual reports, 1951-1953
University reports divided by departments with departmental needs and statistics of students in specific programs. Submitted job applications also included. Dated 1951 to 1953.
Office of the President complementary records, 1952-1958
Contains complimentary and congratulatory memos and correspondence to and from President Wilkinson. Dated 1952 to 1958.
Office of the President complementary records, 1963
Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson complimenting BYU staff and members of the community. Dated 1963.
Office of the President complimentary records, 1960-1962
Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson complimenting others on their performances. Also contains letters complimenting President Wilkinson. Dated 1960 to 1962.