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 62 Collections and/or Records:
Addresses in honor of Harvey Fletcher
Contains eight typewritten, edited and final drafts of speeches about Fletcher written and given by William L. Woolf and George H. Hansen, a memorandum concerning a speech from Ernest L. Wilkinson to George H. Hansen, a record of Fletcher's professional experience, and biographical information submitted to Who's Who in America.
Brigham Young University comptroller correspondence
Includes files concerning university budget, the Church School System, campus colleges and departments, faculty, staff, fund-raising, administrative meetings, students, Treasurer's Office, New World Archaeological Foundation, and athletics. Also includes files relative to Church schools in Mexico and in the Pacific, and some of Bentley's personal files. Includes significant amounts of correspondence with Ernest L. Wilkinson (president of BYU) and others.
Brigham Young University inaugural speeches and responses
Contains only inaugural speeches and responses by presidents Harris, McDonald, Wilkinson, Oaks, Holland, and Lee.
Brigham Young University presidential portraits
Contains portraits of the presidents of the university from Warren N. Dusenberry to Merrill J. Bateman, excluding Rex E. Lee's portrait. Materials date from between 1875 and 2003.
Centennial Committee records
Centennial History Project records
Collection of sketches of Brigham Young University presidents
Series of panorama-style sketches of the presidents of Brigham Young University from Warren N. Dusenberry through Jeffrey R. Holland.
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.
Heber G. Wolsey Administrative Council records
Includes correspondence concerning policies and procedures of the Board of Trustees, colleges and departments, committees, research, Auxiliary Services, Church School System, Public Relations, office of university programs, University Relations, students, and Communication Services.
Honorary memberships for Brigham Young University presidents
Certificates of honorary membership in the Sons of Utah Pioneers for all Brigham Young University presidents from Warren Dusenberry through Cecil O. Samuelson.