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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 134 Collections and/or Records:

Ernest L. Wilkinson scrapbooks and other material, 1964-1978

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 3 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains scrapbook materials concerning scrapbooks and documents by Wilkinson. Materials date from between 1964 and 1978.

Dates: 1964-1978

Ernest L. Wilkinson scrapbooks, certificates, and other material, 1917-1978

 Series
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains oversized scrapbooks, certificates, artifacts and other material related to Wilkinson. Also includes transparencies depicting Inwood Manor. Materials date from between 1917 and 1978.

Dates: 1917-1978

Ernest L. Wilkinson slides of Inwood Manor, approximately 1962-1978

 Sub-Series — Folder 1: Series 3
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 3 Sub-Series Sub- 6
Scope and Contents

Contains twelve Kodak color slides depicting Inwood Manor. Dated approximately between 1917 and 1978.

Dates: approximately 1962-1978

Heber G. Wolsey policy, procedure and correspondence files, 1957-1971

 Series
Identifier: UA 917 Series 1
Scope and Contents note

Contains various files and records.

Dates: Other: 1957-1971

Office of the President correspondence, 1952-1975

 Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 17
Scope and Contents

Contains bound volumes of correspondence from the Office of the President. Dated 1952 to 1975.

Dates: 1952-1975

Office of the President general records, 1968

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 11 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Memos and letters to and from President Wilkinson discussing miscellaneous personal and professional matters such as condolences, congratulations, pollitics, and inviations to speaking engagements. Dated 1968.

Dates: 1968

Office of the President general records, 1969

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 12 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains general letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others. Also contains reports on trips to Vietnam. Dated 1969.

Dates: 1969

Office of the President general records, 1970

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 13 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Conatains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson, of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, policy and procedures, reports, and newsclippings regarding various, miscellaneous topics at Brigham Young University, such as campus unrest, political orgainizations, personal correspondence, and speeches. Dated 1970.

Dates: 1970

Office of the President general records, 1970-1971

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 14 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, and news clippings on general records of Brigham Young University. Includes material on topics such as invitations, other personal correspondence, speeches, and Brigham Young University in the news. Dated 1971.

Dates: 1970-1971