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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 699 Collections and/or Records:

National Council of American Indians records

 Collection — Oversize-folder 16: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197233235149]
Identifier: MSS 1704
Scope and Contents Contains correspondence, personal history, and business papers of both Zitkala-S̈a and her husband, Raymond Bonnin, with the bulk focusing on Gertrude's activities. Zitkala-S̈a was a central figure in early twentieth century Indian reform, and this collection reflects her intensive involvement. She was instrumental in legislation favorable to Indians and spent a great deal of her time among the Native Americans in an attempt to educate and organize them for greater strength through unity....
Dates: 1906-1938
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Nineteen fifty-one to nineteen seventy-one : the Wilkinson years

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233275632]
Identifier: UA SC 112
Scope and Contents

Historical summary of the administration of Brigham Young University president Ernest L. Wilkinson.

Dates: Publication: 1971
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Richard M. Nixon invitations to Ernest L. Wilkinson

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230348010]
Identifier: MSS 1359
Scope and Contents

Printed invitations to various events associated with the inauguration of Richard Nixon as president of the United States on 21 Jan. 1973. The materials were sent to Ernest L. Wilkinson, president of Brigham Young University.

Dates: 1973
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Office of the President annual reports, 1951-1953

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

University reports divided by departments with departmental needs and statistics of students in specific programs. Submitted job applications also included. Dated 1951 to 1953.

Dates: 1951-1953
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President charts, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 19
Scope and Contents

Contians memos and reports about church school enrollment and dropouts. Dated 1963.

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

Office of the President complementary records, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 28
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson complimenting BYU staff and members of the community. Dated 1963.

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

Office of the President complementary records, 1952-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 14
Scope and Contents

Contains complimentary and congratulatory memos and correspondence to and from President Wilkinson. Dated 1952 to 1958.

Dates: 1952-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President complimentary records, 1960-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 24
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson complimenting others on their performances. Also contains letters complimenting President Wilkinson. Dated 1960 to 1962.

Dates: 1960-1962
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President complimentary records, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 13
Scope and Contents

Contians letters and memos from President Wilkinson complimenting people on their success and achievements. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President condolences records, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 29
Scope and Contents

Contains letters from President Wilkinson offering his condolences to members of the community. Dated 1963.

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

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