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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 television and radio, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 64
Scope and Contents

Consists of reports, correspondence and memos concerning the television industry. Mainly dealing with the Utah Educational Television Foundation and studies on the effects of televison on education.

Dates: 1951-1956
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 television and radio, 1962-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 75
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memorandums between President Wilkinson, BYU staff, Arch Madsen, and radio executives on the subject of new radio programs and daily operations of the KSL radio station. Dated 1962 to 1964.

Dates: 1962-1964
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 tickets, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 32
Scope and Contents

Contains tickets and memos coordinating travel of BYU staff and faculty. 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 travel, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 61
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters describing and arranging proposed travels by BYU faculty and students. 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 travel, 1960-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 78
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and finances arranging Ernest L. Wilkinson's and BYU faculty travel as well as correspondence with Murdock Travel Agency and Church Travel Bureau. Dated 1960 to 1962.

Dates: 1960-1962
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 travel, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 33
Scope and Contents

Contains travel schedules of BYU faculty and staff as well as memos and letters coordinating these travel plans. 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 travel, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 76
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos discussing BYU faculty and students' study abroad finances. Also contains a lengthy travel reimbursement report. 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 United Nations, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 79
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and BYU faculty about the United Nations. Also contains clippings and articles about the United Nations. 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 United Nations, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 77
Scope and Contents

Contains letters between President Wilkinson and others discussing BYU's opinion on and contact with the United Nations. 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 universities, 1956-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 62
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters concerning operations of and realationships with universitites in Idaho, Montana, and Utah. Dated 1956 to 1958.

Dates: 1956-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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