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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 393 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on university standards, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 15
Scope and Contents

Contains a single memo from President Wilkinson to Clyde D. Sandgren about BYU standards. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on visitors, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 79
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and BYU staff discussing visitors to BYU. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on visitors, 1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 81
Scope and Contents

Contains news clippings and memos to and from President Wilkinson about visitors to BYU. Dated 1962.

Dates: 1962
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Vontella Kimball, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 50
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson about articles. Also contains articles and clippings about Vontella Kimball. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on William P. Knecht, 1961-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 46
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters between President Wilkinson and William Knecht, an alumnus of BYU and MIT, discussing ideas for the Church School System. Dated 1961 to 1962.

Dates: 1961-1962
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on William P. Knecht, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 51
Scope and Contents

Contains various memos and letters, many of them between President Wilkinson and William P. Knecht. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on World's Fair, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 80
Scope and Contents

Contains letters to President Wilkinson discussing accommodations for the 1964 Worlds Fair. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on World's Fair, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 41
Scope and Contents

Contains printed materials about the Hall of Free Enterprise at the Worlds Fair, including memos, reports and brochures. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Y Day, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 64
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters and minutes of the "Y" Day Committee discussing service opportunities and sponsors for BYU. Dated 1957 to 1958.

Dates: 1957-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President speeches, 1960-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 18
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others coordinating speaking engagements for President Wilkinson. Dated 1960 to 1964.

Dates: 1960-1964
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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