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 9 Collections and/or Records:
National Council of American Indians records
Office of the President general records, 1964
Contains letters and memos on general topics such as personal correspondence of President Wilkinson and the Utah School Commission. dated 1964.
Office of the President records on Indian Program, 1949-1956
Contains correpondence, memos and reports detailing the establishment of the BYU Indian Education Program, dated between 1949 to 1955.
Office of the President records on Indian program, 1964
Contains letters, memos and reports regarding the BYU Indian Program. Also contains letters about a man in Brazil with a collection of Indian artifacts. Dated 1964.
Office of the President records on Indian program, 1965
Contains letters between President Wilkinson and heads of the Indian Program discussing operations of the program as well as coordinating visits to Indian schools. Also contains a directory of Indian students. Dated 1965.
Office of the President records on Indian Program, 1963
Contains letters, memos, reports, article and clippings about Native Americans at BYU and in the Indian Program. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on Indian Program, 1960-1962
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, church leaders and others on the topic of the Indian program as well as on specific members of the Ute tribe attending church schools. Dated 1960 to 1962.
Office of the President records on Indian program, 1965-1966
Contains letters and memos about Native Americans as well as students at BYU in the Native Studies program. Also contains studies on Indian Affairs policies. Dated 1965-1966.