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 12 Collections and/or Records:

Centennial Committee chronological records, 1973-1976

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and memorandums on a variety of subjects organized by date. Dates from 1973-1976.

Dates: 1973-1976

Centennial Committee miscellaneous records, 1973-1976

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 13
Scope and Contents

An ecclectic accumulation of Centennial Committee files, with event information, vignettes, drawings, photographs, and meeting minutes. Dated 1973-1976.

Dates: 1973-1976

Ernest L. Wilkinson personal papers, 1917-1978

 Series
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains various personal papers of Ernest L. Wilkinson, including a biography, notes from law school and Wilkinson's 1964 senate campaign, personal correspondence and diaries. Dated from 1923 to 1978.

Dates: 1917-1978

Ernest L. Wilkinson scrapbooks, certificates, and other material, 1917-1978

 Series
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains oversized scrapbooks, certificates, artifacts and other material related to Wilkinson. Also includes transparencies depicting Inwood Manor. Materials date from between 1917 and 1978.

Dates: 1917-1978

Heber G. Wolsey Administrative Council records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 917
Abstract

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.

Dates: 1942-1980

Heber G. Wolsey policy, procedure and correspondence files, 1957-1971

 Series
Identifier: UA 917 Series 1
Scope and Contents note

Contains various files and records.

Dates: Other: 1957-1971

Public Communications records on student protest and campus disorders, 1968-1971

 Series
Identifier: UA 586 Series 13
Scope and Contents note

Contains information about student protests and campus disorders in the United States from 1968 to 1971.

Dates: Other: 1968-1971

University Relations Division records on distinguished visitors and honors recipients, 1951-1974

 Series
Identifier: UA 586 Series 8
Scope and Contents note

Information related to distinguished visitors to BYU and honors recipients from 1951 to 1974, sorted alphabetically.

Dates: Other: 1951-1974

University Relations Division records on forum speakers, 1952-1977

 Series
Identifier: UA 586 Series 6
Scope and Contents note

Files of forum speakers from 1952-1977.

Dates: Other: 1952-1977

University Relations Division records on lyceums, 1949-1979

 Series
Identifier: UA 586 Series 7
Scope and Contents note

Contains news releases, biographical information, and other ephemera related to visiting concert artists from 1949 to 1979.

Dates: Other: 1949-1979