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:

Oral history interview with Robert Edwon Riggs

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA OH 170

Scope and Contents

Oral history conducted by Arthur R. Watkins as part of the Brigham Young University Archives Joint Oral History Project of the Brigham Young University Alumni Association Emeritus Club on September 8, 1992. Riggs talks about his education, his law career, his employment at Brigham Young University, and his disagreements with the president of Brigham Young University, Ernest L. Wilkinson. Includes transcript and sound recording.

Dates: 1992

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Oral history interview with Russel B. Swensen

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA OH 32

Scope and Contents

Interview by Mark K. Allen with Russel B. Swensen, Brigham Young University professor of Medieval history and comparative religion, concerning his family life, hobbies, education, early employment, Mormon mission to Germany, athletic participation, Seminary, and teaching at BYU. Swensen gives his impressions of several BYU presidents, and discusses his philosophy of teaching. Includes sound recording and transcript.

Dates: 1978

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Oral history interview with Thomas E. Cheney

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA OH 46

Scope and Contents

Interview by J. Roman Andrus with Tom Cheney, Brigham Young University English professor, concerning his teaching experience, his relationship with the faculty and administration, and his paper concerning African Americans and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and subsequent controversy. Includes sound recording and transcript.

Dates: 1979

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Oral history interview with VerDon Harward

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA OH 107

Scope and Contents

Interview by Wendy Burnett with VerDon Harward, discussing his career, memories of and working relations with Brigham Young University presidents. Also discusses personnel, and reminiscences of student activities and pranks. Includes transcript and sound recording.

Dates: 1981

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Oral history interview with William E. Berrett

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA OH 69

Scope and Contents Interview by Thomas E. Cheney with William E. Berrett concerning the history of the Church Education System, particularily the Seminary and Institutes program. Also speaks on the development of religious instruction at BYU, his experiences with Ernest Wilkinson, and the development of Brigham Young University from 1948-1971. Also discusses the discontinuance of social units at BYU, the organization of BYU wards, and the establishment of the ROTC program. Includes transcript and sound...

Dates: 1982

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Oral history interview with Wilmer W. Tanner

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA OH 114

Scope and Contents Professor Tanner was interviewed by Morris Klinger on March 16, 1983 as part of the Joint Oral History Project for the Brigham Young University Archives and Brigham Young University Alumni Association Emeritus Club. The interview was transcribed in 1984. The material gives a brief sketch of Tanner's life and concentrates on the time he served as a professor of zoology at Brigham Young University. He mentions his relationship with Monte L. Bean which was instrumental in Bean's donation of...

Dates: 1983-1984

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Oral history interview with Wilmer W. Tanner

File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225524237]

Identifier: MSS 2971

Scope and Contents Typescript of an interview with Wilmer W. Tanner conducted by Morris Klinger on March 16, 1983. The interview was conducted for The Joint Oral History Project Brigham Young University Brigham Young University Alumni Association Emeritus Club. Tanner talks about his early life in Indianola, Utah, his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Netherlands, his education, his publications, and his teaching career at Brigham Young University. He also comments on Ernest...

Dates: 1983 March 16

Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Papers on the death of Zitkala-S̈a and Raymond T. Bonnin, 1938-1942

Sub-Series

Identifier: MSS 1704 Series 1 Sub-Series 9

Scope and Contents From the Collection: Contains correspondence, personal history, and business papers of both Zitkala-S̈a and her husband, Raymond Bonnin, with the bulk focusing on Gertrude's activities. Zitkala-S̈a was a central figure in early twentieth century Indian reform, and this collection reflects her intensive involvement. She was instrumental in legislation favorable to Indians and spent a great deal of her time among the Native Americans in an attempt to educate and organize them for greater strength through unity....

Dates: 1938-1942