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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:

Office of the President records on Alumni Association, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports, brochures and clippings on the topic of the BYU Alumni Association reviewing its financial contributions to BYU. Also contains memos to President Wilkinson about his speaking at a conference at Aspen Grove. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Alumni Association, 1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos about the BYU Alumni Association as well as lists and articles about alumni and alumni descendents. Also contains memos and financial records about use of Aspen Grove. Dated 1967.

Dates: 1967
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on appointment to president, 1949-1951

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

Correspondence to and from Ernest L. Wilkinson regarding the current state and future of Brigham Young University, and reviews and notes pertaining to the university. Dated 1949 to 1951.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1949-1951
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on appointments, 1963

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

Contains memos between President Wilkinson and BYU faculty organizing his appointments for various university president duties. 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 records on appreciation, 1962

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

Contains letters and memos of appreciation from President Wilkinson to others in the Utah community. Dated 1962.

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

Office of the President records on appreciation, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains letters of appreciation to President Wilkinson from members of the community for various services. 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 records on Arab Development Society, 1960-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, and one photo album documenting BYU and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's involvement in the Arab Development Society in Jordan. 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 records on Arab Development Society, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others discussing the success and operations of the Arab Development Society. 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 records on Arab Development Society, 1962-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Arab Development Society discussing daily operations and special circumstances of the program. Also contains reports about operations of the program. Dated 1962 to 1963.

Dates: 1962-1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on articles of incorporation, 1949-1953

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Correspondence with the Board of Trustees regarding the articles of incorporation. A copy of the original deed for the university included. Record keeping dates from 1949 to 1953.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1949-1953
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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