Wilkinson, Ernest L., 1899-1978

Person

Staff Only

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 William P. Knecht, 1963

Sub-Series

Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 51

Scope and Contents

Contains various memos and letters, many of them between President Wilkinson and William P. Knecht. 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 World's Fair, 1963

Sub-Series

Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 41

Scope and Contents

Contains printed materials about the Hall of Free Enterprise at the Worlds Fair, including memos, reports and brochures. 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 World's Fair, 1963

Sub-Series

Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 80

Scope and Contents

Contains letters to President Wilkinson discussing accommodations for the 1964 Worlds Fair. 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 Y Day, 1957-1958

Sub-Series

Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 64

Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters and minutes of the "Y" Day Committee discussing service opportunities and sponsors for BYU. 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 speeches, 1951-1955

Sub-Series

Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 51

Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and memos concerning speaking engagements of President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty as well as radio presentations between 1945 to 1956. Date of record keeping 1951 to 1955.

Dates: Record Keeping: 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 speeches, 1953-1958

Sub-Series

Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 58

Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters regarding speeches given by President Wilkinson and others on BYU campus. Dated 1953 to 1958.

Dates: 1953-1958

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

Office of the President speeches, 1960-1962

Sub-Series

Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 69

Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos of President Wilkinson accepting and rejecting speaking engagements and distributing copies of his addresses. Dated 1960 to 1962.

Dates: 1960-1962