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 32 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1967
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations such as missions and auxiliaries. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on Church School System, 1944-1958
Contains correspondence and reports pertaining to Ricks College, LDS Business College, Juarez Academy and the Brigham Young University schools in the Pacific. Materials discuss finances, enrollment, and the unification of the church school systems. Dated 1944 to 1958.
Office of the President records on Church School System, 1954-1962
Contains annual budget reports and requests for BYU as well as annual CES reports to the First Presidency. Dated 1954 to 1962.
Office of the President records on Church School System, 1967
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, Church general authorities, and BYU faculty on the topics of Church schools, proposed Church schools, and curriculum within these schools. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on Continuing Education, 1967
Contains letters, memos and reports about off-campus and continuing education opportunities through BYU including satellites campuses, education weeks, and study abroad programs. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on curriculum, 1950-1956
Contains correspondence, reports, proposals and lists written by and for members of Brigham Young University faculty and administration between 1950 to 1956. The papers concern changes to curriculum, enrollment of graduate students, teacher loads and general academic statisitics.
Office of the President records on enrollment, 1949-1956
Contains statistical information concerning enrollment of students at BYU and other universities, dated between 1949 to 1956. The information is organized into reports, lists, and visual charts.
Office of the President records on enrollment, 1962-1963
Contains letters, memos and statistical charts and reports about the enrollment of students at BYU. Dated 1962 to 1963.
Office of the President records on enrollment, 1960
Contains volumes one and two of the report on cumulative enrollment 1957-1958 by wards, stakes and missions. Dated 1960.
Office of the President records on enrollment, 1956-1958
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 1937 to 1960.