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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 6 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on academic aids, 1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between BYU staff members discussing the learning aids at BYU, including the computer center, data processing facilities, the library, books and articles. Dated 1965.

Dates: 1965
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on academic aids, 1964-1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 7 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between BYU staff members discussing the learning aids at BYU, including the computer center, data processing facilities, the library, books and collections. Dated 1964 to 1965.

Dates: 1964-1965
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on library, 1950-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 32
Scope and Contents

Memos, correspondence, and procedures regarding the operation of the campus library, dated 1950 to 1956.

Dates: 1950-1956
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on library, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 54
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos about books and resources in the BYU student library and J. Reuben Clark law library. Also contains a report on science and religion. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on library, 1954-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 36
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters discussing the collections of books and manuscripts at the BYU library. Dated 1954 to 1958.

Dates: 1954-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on library, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 49
Scope and Contents

Contains reports, memos and letters on the BYU library, especially on collection materials and donations made to the library. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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