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 17 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President recommendations, 1963
Contians letters, memos, reports and lists about recommendations for students and staff. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on academic aids, 1967
Contains letters, memos, and reports about physical aids to education at BYU such as the library, computer center, the Russell collection, and more. Also contains lists of materials. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on administrative studies, 1963
Contains memos and letters between President Wilkinson and committees seeking funding. Also contains lists of accrediting associations. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on Alumni Association, 1967
Contains letters and memos about the BYU Alumni Association as well as lists and articles about alumni and alumni descendents. Also contains memos and financial records about use of Aspen Grove. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on Catholic Church, 1957-1958
Contains lists of Protestant and Catholic churches. Also contains letters about Catholic Priests who converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dated 1957 to 1958.
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1949-1957
Correspondence between Ernest L. Wilkinson and local and general authority Church leaders concerning seminaries, institutes, student wards, events, etc. Dated 1949 to 1957.
Office of the President records on colleges and departments, 1946-1958
Correspondence, memos, reports, and various publications related to the administration of departments and colleges on campus. Materials dated 1946 to 1958.
Office of the President records on committees, 1951-1956
Contains membership lists, annual reports and correspondence between 1951 to 1956 from various committees at Brigham Young University.
Office of the President records on committees, 1963
Contains a list of all committees on BYU campus as well as their activity status. Also contains letters and memos about committees. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on enrollment, 1956-1958
Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including the Church School System, federal aid, finance, enrollment statistics, and general correspondence between administration. Dates of record keeping from 1937 to 1960.