Skip to main content

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:

Scrapbook on Brigham Young University buildings

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233647053]
Identifier: UA 5529
Scope and Contents

Scrapbook of Brigham Young University buildings given to David O. McKay by Ernest L. Wilkinson in 1966.

Dates: 1950-1966
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Selected press clippings concerning Zitkala-S̈a, 1918-1931

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 1704 Series 1 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Includes clippings or photocopies of clippings featuring Zitkala-S̈a, dated 1918-1931.

Dates: 1918-1931
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / National Council of American Indians records / Zitkala-S̈a personal papers and writings

Seventeenth Annual Utah Conference on Higher Education papers

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231023737]
Identifier: MSS 6809
Abstract

The proceedings of the 17th Annual Utah Conference on Higher Education, as well as a program outlining the events of the weekend, dated September 15, 16, 1960.

Dates: 1960
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Smith, Robert memos, 1968

 Series — Box 454: Series 11 [Barcode: 31197239261206], Folder: 5
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 11 Sub-Series 2 Series 16
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other members of BYU administration as well as reports on BYU activity. Also contains sections on administrative councils and budgets for BYU departments. Dated 1968.

Dates: 1968
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 administration

Summer School dean records

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231012045]
Identifier: UA 279
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and payroll reports concerning summer school faculty (14 items). Materials date from between 1950 and 1953.

Dates: 1950-1953
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Translation Sciences Institute annual reports and committee records, 1975-1992

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5592 Series 2 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains general records of the Translation Sciences Institute, including annual reports and policies from the Humanities Research Center, database distribution records, building records, and general files. Also included are two plaques in an oversize folder from the institute honoring Ernest L. Wilkinson and his contributions, 1975-1992.

Dates: 1975-1992
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Translation Sciences Institute records / Translation Sciences Institute general records

Undated correspondences and related documents

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 1704 Series 2 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents

The correspondences and other documents in this box are not explicitly dated but have been grouped into some general categories.

Dates: 1906-1938
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / National Council of American Indians records / Zitkala-S̈a personal and business correspondence

Unified Church School System reports

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231022960]
Identifier: UA 502
Scope and Contents

Contains reports concerning Brigham Young University, Institutes of Religion, Seminaries, Ricks College, LDS Business School, Juarez School, McCune School, and schools in Mexico in the Unified Church School System.

Dates: 1951-1961
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

United States government documents (with related documents)

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1704 Series 3
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: 1906-1938
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / National Council of American Indians records

University Communications newspaper clippings on Ernest L. Wilkinson

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1071
Scope and Contents

Contains newspaper clippings about Ernest L. Wilkinson, 1951-1971.

Dates: 1951-1971
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.