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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 federal aid to education, 1961-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 2 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

This subseries largely consists of letters and memos between university officials and with government officials. They discuss the government, governmental finances, and include quotes/exerpts from speeches. Dated 1961 to 1962.

Dates: 1961-1962
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 finances, 1948-1961

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 22
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and reports about budgets and university costs between 1948 to 1961. Specifically concerning federal aid, travel expenses, general budgets, etc.

Dates: 1948-1961
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 finances, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 26
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, correspondence and reports on BYU finances and audits. 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

Office of the President records on finances, 1950-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 34
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty discussing use of BYU funds. Also contains financial reports on past and future proposed budgets for BYU. Dated 1950 to 1963.

Dates: 1950-1963
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 finances, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 20
Scope and Contents

Contains BYU budgets and reports on financial matters. Also contains memos, letters and charts about student tuition. 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 finances, 1962-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 39
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, reports and memos about BYU finances. Topics include investments, staff salaries, and other expenses. 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 finances, 1950-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 2 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains financial records, reports, and budgets of the university. Dated 1950 to 1963.

Dates: 1950-1963
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 Franklin S. Harris, 1959-1961

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 37
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, articles and reports about Franklin S. Harris, as well as eulogies and other materials from his memorial service. Dated 1959-1961.

Dates: 1959-1961
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 Freedoms Foundation, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 35
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and Freedoms Foundation. Dated 1959-1962.

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 Freedoms Foundation, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 40
Scope and Contents

Contains memos from the Freedom Foundation discussing proceedings of their meetings as well as brochures and lists. 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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