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 290 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President annual reports, 1951-1953
University reports divided by departments with departmental needs and statistics of students in specific programs. Submitted job applications also included. Dated 1951 to 1953.
Office of the President charts, 1963
Contians memos and reports about church school enrollment and dropouts. Dated 1963.
Office of the President complementary records, 1952-1958
Contains complimentary and congratulatory memos and correspondence to and from President Wilkinson. Dated 1952 to 1958.
Office of the President complementary records, 1963
Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson complimenting BYU staff and members of the community. Dated 1963.
Office of the President condolences records, 1963
Contains letters from President Wilkinson offering his condolences to members of the community. Dated 1963.
Office of the President congratulatory records, 1960-1962
Contains letters from President Wilkinson congratulating people on their accomplishments. Dated 1960 to 1962.
Office of the President congratulatory records, 1963
Contains letters and memos from President Wilkinson congratulating members of the community. Dated 1863.
Office of the President general records, 1964-1965
Letters and memos to President Wilkinson inviting him to attend and speak at events, as well as his responses. Also contains letters of congratulations and travel information. Dated 1964-1965.
Office of the President general records, 1964
Contains letters and memos on general topics such as personal correspondence of President Wilkinson and the Utah School Commission. dated 1964.
Office of the President general records, 1966-1967
Letters and memos to President Wilkinson inviting him to attend and speak at events. as well as his responses. Also contains letters of congratulations and travel information. Dated 1966-1967.