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 12 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on administration, 1959-1963
Contains memos and letters between President Wilkinson and BYU faculty and staff dicussing administrative duties at BYU. Topics include meetings, university reports, the academic calendar, and more. Dated 1959 to 1963.
Office of the President records on committees, 1960-1961
Contains memos between President Wilkinson and facaulty members of BYU assigning them to various campus committees. Dated 1960 to 1961.
Office of the President records on Communism, 1960-1962
Contains articles warning againsat the threat of communism as well as memos and letters between BYU faculty discussing measures against communism in the community. Dated 1960 to 1962.
Office of the President records on department chairmen, 1959-1962
Contains memos between Preident Wilkinson and heads of BYU departments. Also contains a list of all BYU department chairmen. Dated 1959 to 1962.
Office of the President records on faculty, 1949-1965
Contains letters and memos between BYU faculty and President Wilkinson discussing personal as well as academic issues. Also contains reports on faculty terminations, work loads, and more. Dated 1949 to 1965.
Office of the President records on finances, 1950-1963
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty discussing use of BYU funds. Also contains financial reports on past and future proposed budgets for BYU. Dated 1950 to 1963.
Office of the President records on retirement, 1957-1958
Contains letters and memorandums from BYU staff members discussing the BYU retirement plan. Dated 1957 to 1958.
Office of the President records on scheduling, 1956-1958
Contains minutes of meetings and memorandums concerning the scheduling of BYU faculty meetings and BYU classes. Dated 1956 to 1958.
Office of the President records on Study Abroad, 1963
Contains letters and memos among BYU faculty about study abroad programs. Dated 1963.
Office of the President records on travel, 1963
Contains letters and memos discussing BYU faculty and students' study abroad finances. Also contains a lengthy travel reimbursement report. Dated 1963.