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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 10 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Alumni Association, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports, brochures and clippings on the topic of the BYU Alumni Association reviewing its financial contributions to BYU. Also contains memos to President Wilkinson about his speaking at a conference at Aspen Grove. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on associations, 1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, reports and clippings about the BYU Women's Club, intruders at Aspen Grove, and the New World Archaeological Foundation (NFAW). Also contains a single letter of condolance as well as reports and articles on Mesoamerican archaeological excavations. Dated 1965.

Dates: 1965
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1949-1957

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents

Correspondence between Ernest L. Wilkinson and local and general authority Church leaders concerning seminaries, institutes, student wards, events, etc. Dated 1949 to 1957.

Dates: 1949-1957
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Church School System, 1944-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 12
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and reports pertaining to Ricks College, LDS Business College, Juarez Academy and the Brigham Young University schools in the Pacific. Materials discuss finances, enrollment, and the unification of the church school systems. Dated 1944 to 1958.

Dates: 1944-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on education, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 34
Scope and Contents

Contains reports of teachers' salaries as well as clippings about funds for schools. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Indian Program, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 46
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports, article and clippings about Native Americans at BYU and in the Indian Program. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on J. Bracken Lee, 1953-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 30
Scope and Contents

Contains news clippings, letters, memorandums and reports from 1953 to 1956 concerning Utah Governor Joseph Bracken Lee.

Dates: 1953-1956
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Salt Lake Theatre, 1956-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 52
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memorandums inquiring about the state of the BYU and University of Utah theater facilities. Also contains photocopies of clippings and reports about theater facilities. Dated 1956 to 1958.

Dates: 1956-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on state institutions, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 69
Scope and Contents

Contains clippings as well as letters and reports from a special committee on school finances to the Board of Governors in Salt Lake City about university funds. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on state institutions, 1961-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 70
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters, reports and news clippings about the need for school facilities. Dated 1961 to 1962.

Dates: 1961-1962
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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