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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 67 Collections and/or Records:

Centennial Committee records on college and departmental events, 1973-1976

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Consists of memorandums, meeting minutes, correspondence, and other materials generated as part of planning events and displays to be hosted by various colleges and departments. Dates from 1973-1976.

Dates: 1973-1976

Centennial History Project director records, 1971-1976

 Series
Identifier: UA 566 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains files compiled by Ernest L. Wilkinson, Project Director and Editor of the published histories. Includes correspondence, meeting minutes, memorandums, notes, and other items. Materials date from between 1971 and 1976.

Dates: 1971-1976

Centennial History Project records on multi-volume history, approximately 1972-1975

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 566 Series 1 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains chapter outlines and correspondence, editor's comments, preliminary material, and drafts of the preface, foreword, chapters 1-55, and the pictures and illustrations, memoranda, notes, and critiques relating to the research and writing of the four volume history. Materials date from approximately 1972 and 1975.

Dates: approximately 1972-1975

Centennial History Project records on multi-volume history production and distribution, approximately 1972-1975

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 566 Series 1 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, reports, lists, manuscript errors, and other records on formatting, printing, production, and distribution of the multi-volume history. Materials date from between approximately 1972 and 1975.

Dates: approximately 1972-1975

Centennial History Project records on research, 1971-1975

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 566 Series 1 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence regarding the location, acquisition, and use of source material, administrative research files, including articles in incorporation, board materials, enrollment, correspondence, and reports. Materials date from between 1971 and 1975.

Dates: 1971-1975

Centennial History Project staff meeting minutes, 1972-1975

 Sub-Series — Box 3: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197231241172]
Identifier: UA 566 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains minute drafts and minutes of weekly Centennial History staff meetings. Materials date from between 1972 and 1976.

Dates: 1972-1975

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on KSL, 1965-1977

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, minutes, memorandums and other material related to KSL. Papers date from between 1965 and 1977.

Dates: 1965-1977

Christen Jensen papers

 Collection
Identifier: UA 96
Scope and Contents

Collection includes correspondence, reports, memoranda, minutes, and examinations concerning Brigham Young University transfer credits, awards, faculty meetings, graduate school, Franklin S. Harris, Ernest L. Wilkinson, history, political science, and public administration.

Dates: 1903-1961

Office of the President general records, 1970

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 13 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Conatains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson, of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, policy and procedures, reports, and newsclippings regarding various, miscellaneous topics at Brigham Young University, such as campus unrest, political orgainizations, personal correspondence, and speeches. Dated 1970.

Dates: 1970

Office of the President general records, 1970-1971

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 14 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, and news clippings on general records of Brigham Young University. Includes material on topics such as invitations, other personal correspondence, speeches, and Brigham Young University in the news. Dated 1971.

Dates: 1970-1971