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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 data processing, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 32
Scope and Contents

Contains memos about data processing as well as a brochure on data processing education. 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 dedicatory services, 1954-1957

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 18
Scope and Contents

Contains memos planning dedication of campus buildings as well as brochures and reports telling the history of campus buildings. Dated 1954 to 1957.

Dates: 1954-1957
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 department chairmen, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 27
Scope and Contents

Contains memos between Preident Wilkinson and heads of BYU departments. Also contains a list of all BYU department chairmen. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962
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 department chairmen, 1954-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 19
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums and letters from President Wilkinson appointing faculty members to the position of department chairmen, as well as discussing campus issues. Dated 1954 to 1958.

Dates: 1954-1958
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 department chairmen, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 31
Scope and Contents

Contains memos between Earl C. Crockett and President Wilkinson discussing chairmen of BYU departments. 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 directories, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 16
Scope and Contents

Contains directories for students and instructors in Institutes and Seminaries. 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 economy suggestion, 1957

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 20
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 1937 to 1960.

Dates: 1957
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 economy suggestions, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 29
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and proposals of suggestions on how BYU departments could better handle funds, most written by Joseph T. Bentley. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962
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 education, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 34
Scope and Contents

Contains reports of teachers' salaries as well as clippings about funds for schools. 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 eminent domain, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 21
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters and proposals regarding the right of eminent domain to private institutions of higher learning in the state of Utah. Dated 1957 to 1958.

Dates: 1957-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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