Wilkinson, Ernest L., 1899-1978
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, 1971Deem, 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 speeches , 1965
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and potential speakers at BYU organizing addresses. Also contains the annual reports of various BYU colleges, as well as copies of addresses given at BYU. Dated 1965.
Office of the President speeches, 1966
Contains letters, memos and more materials between President Wilkinson, BYU students and BYU staff about speeches given by Presidetn Wilkinson. Dated 1966.
Office of the President speeches, 1967
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other. The letters were invitations for President Wilkinson to speak at events, as well as his reponses to these invitations. Dated 1967.
Office of the President speeches, 1972
Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, and preparatory materials on speeches given by Ernest L. Wilkinson. Includes material prepared for speeches at miscellaneous groups and conventions. Dated 1972.
Office of the President speeches, 1973
Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, and other materials on the speaking engagements of Ernest L. Wilkinson. Dated 1973.
Oral history interview with Alice L. Wilkinson
Interview by Virginia Poulson with Alice Wilkinson concerning her background, family, college life and activities, church and community activities, travel, and the contributions of her husband in church, education and politics. Includes transcript and sound recording.
Oral history interview with Armin J. Hill
Interview by Mardin Clark with Armin Hill discussing his responsibilities and administrative activities relating to Brigham Young University.
Oral history interview with Ben E. Lewis
Interview by Mark Smith with Ben E. Lewis about his experiences at Brigham Young University as a student and administrator. Also gives his background working for the Marriott corporation prior to his career at BYU. Talks at length about Ernest Wilkinson and the administration of the University. Includes transcript and sound recordings.
Oral history interview with Edith Johnson
Oral interview conducted by Hollis Scott as part of the Brigham Young University Archives Joint Oral History Project of the Brigham Young University Alumni Association Emeritus Club at Provo, Utah on April 24, 1984.Johnson discusses her career at Brigham Young University and her experiences as secretary to Ernest L. Wilkinson. She also comments on Mrs. Wilkinson's involvement in University affairs. Includes transcript and sound recordings.
Oral history interview with Fern Eyring Fletcher
Interview by Hollis Scott with Fern Eyring Fletcher of her recollections of childhood, her father Stephen L. Chipman, various General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, experiences in high school, as a student at Brigham Young University, about faculty members at BYU, her teaching experiences at BYU, and her feelings about BYU. Includes sound recordings and a transcript.