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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:

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on Deseret News, 1936-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, memos, and other materials related to the Deseret News. Papers date from between 1936 and 1978.

Dates: 1936-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal files

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on family, 1971-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and other material related to the Wilkinson family. Papers date from bewteen 1971 and 1978.

Dates: 1971-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal files

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on fund raising, 1954-1972

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and financial records related to university and church-related fund raising efforts. Materials date from between 1954 and 1972.

Dates: 1954-1972
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal files

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on Inwood Manor, 1962-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, financial records, and other material relating to Inwood Manor. Materials date from between 1962 and 1978.

Dates: 1962-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on Inwood Manor construction, 1917-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, change orders, memos and other material related to the construction of Inwood Manor. Dated 1917-1978.

Dates: 1917-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on junior college program, 1875-1963

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 5
Dates: 1875-1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal files

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on KSL, 1965-1977

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, minutes, memorandums and other material related to KSL. Papers date from between 1965 and 1977.

Dates: 1965-1977
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal files

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on National Right to Work Committee, 1969-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, financial records, and other materials related to the National Right to Work Committee. Materials date from bewteen 1969 and 1978.

Dates: 1969-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on politics, 1966-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, bulletins, and reports related to the Republican Party and politics. Materials date from between 1966 and 1978.

Dates: 1966-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers

Ernest L. Wilkinson personal correspondence, 1970-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents note

Contains personal correspondence by Wilkinson. Materials date from between 1970 and 1978.

Dates: 1970-1978
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Ernest L. Wilkinson papers / Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers

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