Wilkinson, Ernest L., 1899-1978
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, 1971Deem, 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 Brigham Young High School, 1963
Contains letters and memos about dedicatory services for Hillcrest High School as well as high school athletics taking place at BYU. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on Brigham Young University, 1950-1962
Contains letters and memos to and from President Wilkinson on various issues such as standards, women, high school, and the history of BYU. Dated 1950 to 1962.
Office of the President records on BYU Women, 1963
Contians letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others about honoring Mormon women. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on Catholic Church, 1959-1962
Contains letters, memos and clippings discussing the growth of the Catholic church and ex-catholic priests. Dated 1959 to 1962.
Office of the President records on Catholic Church, 1963
Contains a memo from President Wilkinson to Dean B. West Belnap about the Catholic church. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on Catholic Church, 1957-1958
Contains lists of Protestant and Catholic churches. Also contains letters about Catholic Priests who converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dated 1957 to 1958.
Office of the President records on Catholic Church, 1951
Correspondence regarding obtaining a copy of the Pope's address on the topic of birth control, as well as the article. Also includes correspondence regarding Catholic student's requirements. Dated 1951.
Office of the President records on charts, 1960-1962
Contains an index of charts kept in the basement of the Maeser building as well as memos between President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty discussing these charts. Dated 1960 to 1962.
Office of the President records on Church Educational System, 1971
Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos and correspondence on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints school system. Includes material on topics such as Rick's College, Chruch College of Hawaii, and correspondence with Neal Maxwell. Dated 1971.
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1951-1963
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and general authorities from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Topics included various BYU and church issues. Dated 1951 to 1963.