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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 Social Security, 1952

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 53
Scope and Contents

Contains ballots from a vote on the retirement plan at BYU as well as reports detailing the BYU retirement policies, dated 1952.

Dates: 1952
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 Spirit of the Y Week, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 55
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters to and from President Wilkinson discussing the special events taking place during the "Spirit of the Y" week on BYU campus. 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 Stake Presidents and Bishops Day, 1959-1961

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 56
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos organizing the festivities for Stake Presidents and Bishops Day on BYU campus. Dated 1959 to 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 Standards Committee, 1963-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 71
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and reports from the BYU standards comittee detailing student offenses and actions taken by BYU. ated 1963-1964.

Dates: 1963-1964
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 state institutions, 1961-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 70
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters, reports and news clippings about the need for school facilities. 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 state institutions, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 69
Scope and Contents

Contains clippings as well as letters and reports from a special committee on school finances to the Board of Governors in Salt Lake City about university funds. 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 statistics, 1952-1954

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 54
Scope and Contents

Contains reports and statistics on higher education, Utah schools, and marriage, dated between 1952 to 1954.

Dates: 1952-1954
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 steel plant at Geneva, 1950-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 55
Scope and Contents

Contains petitions, reports and correspondence regarding the Geneva Steel Company, dated 1950 to 1955.

Dates: 1950-1955
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 Student Personnel Services, 1951-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 60
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and memorandums describing a variety of special student cricumstances. The materials describe crimes by students, transfer student situations and G.I. bills for Korean veterans. Dated 1951 to 1955.

Dates: 1951-1955
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 students, 1953-1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 59
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos to and from President Wilkinson, addressing student life, events and services available at BYU. Dated 1953 to 1959.

Dates: 1953-1959
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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