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 44 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President annual reports, 1951-1953
University reports divided by departments with departmental needs and statistics of students in specific programs. Submitted job applications also included. Dated 1951 to 1953.
Office of the President invitations, 1951-1956
Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including staff, faculty, students, finance, and higher education in Utah and the United States. Dates of record keeping from 1949 to 1956.
Office of the President non compos mentis records, 1951-1956
Unusual letters and memorandums addressed to Wilkinson, and copies of Wilkinson's replies. Dated 1951 to 1956.
Office of the President records, 1949-1956
Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including staff, faculty, students, finance, and higher education in Utah and the United States. Dates of record keeping from 1949 to 1956.
Office of the President records on A. C. Lambert, 1959-1961
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and representatives of the California State Department of Education. Also contains a report written by Dr. A.C. Lambert of Los Angeles State College. Dated 1959 to 1961.
Office of the President records on African Americans, 1955-1962
Contians news clippings, letters and memos discussing the position of black students at BYU and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dated 1955 to 1962.
Office of the President records on alcoholism, 1951-1954
Correspondence with the State Board of Alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous. The State Board of Alcoholism's newsletters. Includes articles about the effects and use of alcohol. Dated 1951 to 1954.
Office of the President records on appointment to president, 1949-1951
Correspondence to and from Ernest L. Wilkinson regarding the current state and future of Brigham Young University, and reviews and notes pertaining to the university. Dated 1949 to 1951.
Office of the President records on Arab Development Society, 1960-1962
Contains letters, memos, and one photo album documenting BYU and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's involvement in the Arab Development Society in Jordan. Dated 1960 to 1962.
Office of the President records on articles of incorporation, 1949-1953
Correspondence with the Board of Trustees regarding the articles of incorporation. A copy of the original deed for the university included. Record keeping dates from 1949 to 1953.