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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 3 Collections and/or Records:

Centennial History Project interviews, 1972-1975

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 566 Series 3 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents Contains transcripts of interviews of assorted Unviversity staff, past and present, and card files and compiled lists of the various topical and source codes used by staff researchers. It consists primarily of notes by staff members on personal interviews conducted with university personnel, alumni, and others possessing information concerning the history of the university. Several of these interviews were tap recorded. For several of these taped interviews partial transcripts were produced....
Dates: 1972-1975

Oral history interview with Wilmer W. Tanner

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225524237]
Identifier: MSS 2971
Scope and Contents Typescript of an interview with Wilmer W. Tanner conducted by Morris Klinger on March 16, 1983. The interview was conducted for The Joint Oral History Project Brigham Young University Brigham Young University Alumni Association Emeritus Club. Tanner talks about his early life in Indianola, Utah, his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Netherlands, his education, his publications, and his teaching career at Brigham Young University. He also comments on Ernest...
Dates: 1983 March 16

Marvin E. Wiggins retirement celebration

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227641930]
Identifier: MSS 3974
Scope and Contents

Marvin E. Wiggins retirement celebration, 2007 includes a CD recording and transcript of Wiggins' 31 January 2007 retirement celebration. Wiggins' lecture on that occasion includes history of the Lee Library over his 40 years of service. Also included are tributes from other prominent Library faculty.

Dates: 2007 January 31