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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 junior colleges, 1949-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 28
Scope and Contents

Contains histories, articles, reports and correspondence pertaining to junior colleges in Utah between 1949 to 1955. The majority of the correspondence and articles are opinions about the possibility of several of these colleges being transferred to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dates: 1949-1955
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 junior colleges, 1955-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 33
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports dicussing the benefits and operations of junior colleges. Dated 1955 to 1958.

Dates: 1955-1958
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 Karl G. Maeser, 1952-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 35
Scope and Contents

Correspondence about a book written by Alma P. Burton about Karl G. Maeser. Also included are lists describing some of the work done by Maeser. The letters discuss the distribution of the books as well as the editing. Dated 1952 to 1955.

Dates: 1952-1955
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 law enforcement, 1961-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 48
Scope and Contents

Contains reports by the Law Observance and Enforcement committee on conditions and illegal activity at various locations around Salt Lake City. 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 law enforcement , 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 52
Scope and Contents

Contains reports of illegal activity assembled by the Law Observance and Enforcement Committee in Salt Lake City. 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 Leadership Week, 1950-1953

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 29
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memorandums and schedules concerning leadership weeks at BYU and in Canadian stakes from 1950 to 1953.

Dates: 1950-1953
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 leeway vote, 1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 34
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and news clippings discussing the leeway vote in Utah. Dated 1958.

Dates: 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 legal matters, 1949-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 31
Scope and Contents

Contains general legal materials, including correspondence and memorandums from 1949 to 1956.

Dates: 1949-1956
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 legal matters, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 35
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums and letters concernin various legal contracts and law suits which BYU was involved in. Dated 1957-1958.

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 legal matters, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 53
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos discussing legal issues such as taxes and relations with other universities. 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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