Skip to main content

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 research, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 63
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports written by BYU staff regarding the procurement of grants for research at BYU. Dated 1959 to 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 research, 1966-1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 15
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1966-1967
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 research, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 14
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports about research projects at BYU. Discusses the topic of BYU laboritories, funding, and topics of projects. Much of the memos are between President Wilkinson and Tracy Hall. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966
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 retirement, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 66
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and reports from the BYU Retirement Committee on non-academic employees. 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 retirement, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 51
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memorandums from BYU staff members discussing the BYU retirement plan. 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 retirement, 1959-1960

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 64
Scope and Contents From the Series:

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 1949 to 1963.

Dates: 1959-1960
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 Rhodes Scholarship Fund , 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 67
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others on the topic of awarding the Rhodes Scholarship. 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 Rhodes Scholarship Fund, 1961-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 65
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and lists about which BYU students were selected by the Rhodes Scholarship Fund. 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 Rocky Mountain Assembly, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 68
Scope and Contents

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.

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 Rocky Mountain Assembly, 1960-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 66
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos organizing and discussing the Rocky Mountain Assembly at BYU, as well as a bound report entitled "The Secretary of State" written to help participants at the assembly. 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

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.