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 4 Collections and/or Records:

Centennial History Project records on multi-volume history biographical sketches, approximately 1972-1975

 Sub-Series — Box 11: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197231241016], Folder: 3-43
Identifier: UA 566 Series 1 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence regarding the production of various biographical sketches for the appendixes, miscellaneous biographical information, biographical sketches on various university administrative figuress, and drafts of the various individual biographies and biographical sketches. Materials date from between approximately 1972 and 1975.

Dates: approximately 1972-1975

Centennial History Project topical source files, 1864-1974

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 566 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains topical files, including biographical and historical sketches, articles of incorporation, periodicals, minutes, statistics, journal and diary extracts, minutes of meetings, published information, personal histories, biographical sketches, research notes, and some correspondence on a wide variety of topics. Materials date from between 1864 and 1974.

Dates: 1864-1974

I remember Ernest : vignettes on Dr. Ernest L. Wilkinson, president of Brigham Young University, 1951-1971

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230328764]
Identifier: MSS SC 2950
Scope and Contents

Author relates some of his personal experiences with President Ernest L. Wilkinson which reflect on the latter's work ethic, personality, uses of print media to promote the university, perspectives on BYU athletics, sense of humor, and interactions with other people.

Dates: 1998

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers

 Collection — Folder 1: Series 3
Identifier: UA 1000
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, reports, proposals, corporate minutes, diaries, and other materials related to Wilkinson's law career, service as president of Brigham Young University, political ambitions, and personal life. Dated 1875-1980.

Dates: 1875-1980