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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 administration, 1946-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, including letters and memos, and minutes, agendas, lists and other records regarding functions of the university, campus, students, professors, and courses. Dated 1946 to 1956.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1946-1956

Office of the President records on administration, 1957-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 2 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains minutes from personal meetings between BYU Administrators and President Wilkinson. The meetings concern BYU projects, events, raises, and more. Also concerns memos, correspondence and agendas. Dated 1957 to 1962.

Dates: 1957-1962

Office of the President records on administration, 1954-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums, meeting minutes/agendas, and reports concerning students, academic performance, and the workings of the university. Dated 1954 to 1958.

Dates: 1954-1958

Office of the President records on administration, 1954-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters between BYU faculty and staff, as well as the minutes and agendas of several administrative councils and committees at BYU. Dated 1954 and 1963.

Dates: 1954-1963

Office of the President records on assemblies, 1951-1957

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Correspondence about devotionals and assemblies discussing attendance, speakers, preparations and results. Agendas and attendance reports included. Dated 1951 to 1957.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1951-1957

Office of the President records on Board of Education, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents

Contains agendas and minutes from meetings of the Church Board of Education. Also contains memos from President Wilkinson discussing the board. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962