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 22 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President general records, 1967
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 1967.
Office of the President records, 1950-1962
Records of the Office of the President under Ernest L. Wilkinson on various administrative topics, including the Church School System, federal aid, finance, enrollment statistics, and general correspondence between administration. Dates of record keeping from 1950 to 1962.
Office of the President records on academic aids, 1967
Contains letters, memos, and reports about physical aids to education at BYU such as the library, computer center, the Russell collection, and more. Also contains lists of materials. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on administration, 1966-1967
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other members of BYU administration as well as reports on BYU activity. Also contains sections on administrative councils and budgets for BYU departments. Dated 1966-1967.
Office of the President records on Admissions and Records, 1958-1962
Contains memos, letters, and reports on the topics of student enrollment patterns, financial aid, and individual students at BYU. Dated 1958 to 1962.
Office of the President records on Alumni Association, 1967
Contains letters and memos about the BYU Alumni Association as well as lists and articles about alumni and alumni descendents. Also contains memos and financial records about use of Aspen Grove. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on associations, 1967
Contains letters, memos, reports and other materials from a BYU conference, Credit Union, and the New World Archaeological Foundation Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on Auxiliary Services, 1967
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other BYU staff. Also contains reports about the activity of BYU on-campus auxiliary services such as food and media as well as off-campus Church property. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1967
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations such as missions and auxiliaries. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on Church School System, 1967
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, Church general authorities, and BYU faculty on the topics of Church schools, proposed Church schools, and curriculum within these schools. Dated 1967.