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 5 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on federal aid to education, 1959-1964
Contains letters between President Wilkinson and government leaders in Salt Lake City and the federal govenment on the topic of federal aid, scholarships and grants to BYU. Also contains reports with statistics and facts about financial aid to education. Dated 1959 to 1964.
Office of the President records on public relations, 1951-1956
Materials on public relations, including letters, memorandums, reports, brochures regarding publications, press, radio and TV, fundraising, research, alumni, and councils, all relating to the university's image and relationships with others. Dated 1951 to 1956.
Office of the President records on public relations, 1952-1963
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and community leaders, BYU staff and others on the topic of BYU's public relations. Also contains reports and letters about prospective students and community outreach. Dated 1952 to 1963.
Office of the President records on public relations, 1966
Contians letters, memorandums, brochures, and reports about how BYU is protrayed in the media, as well as a variety of topics such as public obscenity isssues and introductions to new BYU students. Dated 1966.
Office of the President records on Rocky Mountain Assembly, 1960-1962
Contains letters and memos organizing and discussing the Rocky Mountain Assembly at BYU, as well as a bound report entitled "The Secretary of State" written to help participants at the assembly. Dated 1960 to 1962.