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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 251 Collections and/or Records:

Centennial Committee final report, 1976

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1124 Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains a complete copy of the Centennial Committee's final report on the celebration. Dated 1976.

Dates: 1976

Ernest L. Wilkinson correspondence and minutes, 1962-1969

 Series
Identifier: UA 914 Series 13
Scope and Contents

Contains minutes, reports, and other material by Wilkinson, dating from 1962 to 1969.

Dates: 1962-1969

Ernest L. Wilkinson papers on politics, 1966-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, bulletins, and reports related to the Republican Party and politics. Materials date from between 1966 and 1978.

Dates: 1966-1978

Ernest L. Wilkinson subject files, 1952-1970

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 1 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains notes, published items, and reports related to Brigham Young University and higher education. Materials date from between 1952 and 1970.

Dates: 1952-1970

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 annual reports, 1951-1953

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

University reports divided by departments with departmental needs and statistics of students in specific programs. Submitted job applications also included. Dated 1951 to 1953.

Dates: 1951-1953

Office of the President charts, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 19
Scope and Contents

Contians memos and reports about church school enrollment and dropouts. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963

Office of the President general records, 1969

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 12 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains general letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others. Also contains reports on trips to Vietnam. Dated 1969.

Dates: 1969

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