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 27 Collections and/or Records:
Centennial History Project drafts and correspondence, 1972-1977
Contains drafts and associated correspondence for both the one-volume history and multi-volume history of Brigham Young University. Materials date from between 1972 and 1977.
Centennial History Project interviews, 1972-1975
Ben E. Lewis personal papers
Contains annual volumes of randomly organized reminiscences of his life, including childhood in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah; scouting; family; missionary service; education and profession; the building of the Provo and Jordan River temples; and work at Brigham Young University, including interactions with Ernest L. Wilkinson and Dallin H. Oaks. Also includes addresses and poems by Lewis, an oral history, and Lewis family history. Materials dated 1944-2003 (bulk: 1988-2003).
Nineteen fifty-one to nineteen seventy-one : the Wilkinson years
Historical summary of the administration of Brigham Young University president Ernest L. Wilkinson.
Office of the President records on junior colleges, 1949-1955
Contains histories, articles, reports and correspondence pertaining to junior colleges in Utah between 1949 to 1955. The majority of the correspondence and articles are opinions about the possibility of several of these colleges being transferred to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Oral history interview with Alice L. Wilkinson
Interview by Virginia Poulson with Alice Wilkinson concerning her background, family, college life and activities, church and community activities, travel, and the contributions of her husband in church, education and politics. Includes transcript and sound recording.
Oral history interview with Armin J. Hill
Interview by Mardin Clark with Armin Hill discussing his responsibilities and administrative activities relating to Brigham Young University.
Oral history interview with Ben E. Lewis
Interview by Mark Smith with Ben E. Lewis about his experiences at Brigham Young University as a student and administrator. Also gives his background working for the Marriott corporation prior to his career at BYU. Talks at length about Ernest Wilkinson and the administration of the University. Includes transcript and sound recordings.
Oral history interview with Edith Johnson
Oral interview conducted by Hollis Scott as part of the Brigham Young University Archives Joint Oral History Project of the Brigham Young University Alumni Association Emeritus Club at Provo, Utah on April 24, 1984.Johnson discusses her career at Brigham Young University and her experiences as secretary to Ernest L. Wilkinson. She also comments on Mrs. Wilkinson's involvement in University affairs. Includes transcript and sound recordings.
Oral history interview with Fern Eyring Fletcher
Interview by Hollis Scott with Fern Eyring Fletcher of her recollections of childhood, her father Stephen L. Chipman, various General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, experiences in high school, as a student at Brigham Young University, about faculty members at BYU, her teaching experiences at BYU, and her feelings about BYU. Includes sound recordings and a transcript.