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:
Ernest L. Wilkinson personal files, 1875-1978
Contains various personal files of Ernest L. Wilkinson, including papers on KSL, family, and fund-raising. Also includes financial records and chronologically arranged correspondence. Involves subjects such as Deseret News, the Junior College Program, and Board of Trustees minutes, along with other material. Dated 1923-1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers, 1917-1978
Contains various personal papers of Ernest L. Wilkinson, including a biography, notes from law school and Wilkinson's 1964 senate campaign, personal correspondence and diaries. Dated from 1923 to 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson scrapbooks and other material, 1964-1978
Contains scrapbook materials concerning scrapbooks and documents by Wilkinson. Materials date from between 1964 and 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson scrapbooks, certificates, and other material, 1917-1978
Contains oversized scrapbooks, certificates, artifacts and other material related to Wilkinson. Also includes transparencies depicting Inwood Manor. Materials date from between 1917 and 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson slides of Inwood Manor, approximately 1962-1978
Contains twelve Kodak color slides depicting Inwood Manor. Dated approximately between 1917 and 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson sound recordings from Senate campaign, 1959-1964
Contains audiotapes related to Wilkinson's 1964 campaign for the United States Senate, which include recordings of radio and television appearances. Dated 1959-1964.
Ernest L. Wilkinson speeches, 1921-1978
Contains speeches given by Wilkinson, as well as research materials used in speech preparation. Materials date from between 1921 and 1978.
Ernest L. Wilkinson subject files, 1952-1970
Contains notes, published items, and reports related to Brigham Young University and higher education. Materials date from between 1952 and 1970.
Ernest Leroy Wilkinson, 1903-1978
Etchings relating to Brigham Young University
Contains artist's renderings of Brigham Young and another man in Emigration Canyon, and of various campus scenes at Brigham Young Academy and Brigham Young University, including: bell tower, Karl G. Maeser Building, Wasatch Mountains, graduation, whitewashing the Y, Lewis Building fire, man and woman by canal, marching band, Ernest L. Wilkinson addressing assembly for new students, and flag raising. C. L. Purcell identified as artist on some pieces. Contains 21 items.