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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 16 Collections and/or Records:

Centennial Committee general records, 1973-1976

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains notes and information arranged alphabetically by folder subject. Dates from 1973-1976.

Dates: 1973-1976

Centennial Committee research, 1923-1976

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains the Centennial Committee's research, with information collected about how other universities had celebrated their centennial years. Dated 1923-1976.

Dates: 1923-1976

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 appendices, approximately 1972-1975

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 566 Series 1 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains general correspondence, notes, and memorandums related to the appendices in the multi-volume history. Includes information on alumni and honorary awards, the Church Educational System, campus buildings, and university enrollment. Materials date from between approximatey 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 research note cards, 1972-1979

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 566 Series 3 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains research card files, divided into Maeser, Brimhall, and Cluff eras and Wilkinson era, note cards containing extracts from primary source materials. Note cards were not created for the Harris and McDonald presidential eras. Many of the notes are taken from sources in the topical and chronological files. Materials date from between 1972 and 1979.

Dates: 1972-1979

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 biography, 1977-1980

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents note

Contains drafts, notes, and correspondence related to Wilkinson's biography prepared by Wilkinson and Glenn V. Bird. Dated 1977-1980.

Dates: 1977-1980