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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 375 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Freedoms Foundation, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 35
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and Freedoms Foundation. Dated 1959-1962.

Dates: 1959-1962
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 history and celebrations, 1948-1960

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 23
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, memos and programs pertaining to celebrations and events between 1948 to 1960. The programs are for inaugurations of various university presidents, including Ernest L. Wilkinson.

Dates: 1948-1960
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 Honor Council, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 44
Scope and Contents

Contains a letter from Joseph C. Bentley requesting information about the Honor Code from President Wilkinson. 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 honor system, 1959-1961

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 38
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums and reports on cheating at BYU, as well as plans to deal with cheating through the honor code. Dated 1959 to 1961.

Dates: 1959-1961
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 human interest, 1956-1960

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 39
Scope and Contents

Contains articles by BYU students telling stories from their lives. Dated 1956 to 1960.

Dates: 1956-1960
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 human interest, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 45
Scope and Contents

Contains written human interest stories about BYU students as well as memos and clippings of articles. 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 human relations, 1960

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 40
Scope and Contents

Contains a proposal for a center for human relations and leadership development at BYU. Materials dated approximately 1960.

Dates: 1960
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 Indian program, 1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 13
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports regarding the BYU Indian Program. Also contains letters about a man in Brazil with a collection of Indian artifacts. Dated 1964.

Dates: 1964
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 Indian program, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 30
Scope and Contents

Contains the annual report for the Indian program as well as memos and letters about improving the program. 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 records on Indian Program, 1960-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 41
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, church leaders and others on the topic of the Indian program as well as on specific members of the Ute tribe attending church schools. Dated 1960 to 1962.

Dates: 1960-1962
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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