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 136 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on commencement, 1954-1959
Contains programs, speeches, reports, and correspondence pertaining to BYU commencement. The materials concerned undergraduate and graduate students, valedictorian speeches, and honorary degrees. Dated 1954 to 1959.
Office of the President records on committees, 1951-1956
Contains membership lists, annual reports and correspondence between 1951 to 1956 from various committees at Brigham Young University.
Office of the President records on Continuing Education, 1967
Contains letters, memos and reports about off-campus and continuing education opportunities through BYU including satellites campuses, education weeks, and study abroad programs. Dated 1967.
Office of the President records on contributions, 1953-1960
Contains letters, memorandums and reports from various donors and foundations regarding scholarship donations. Dated 1953 to 1960.
Office of the President records on enrollment, 1962-1963
Contains letters, memos and statistical charts and reports about the enrollment of students at BYU. Dated 1962 to 1963.
Office of the President records on Extension Division, 1957-1962
Contains memos, letters, brochures and reports from staff in the BYU extension division. The materials pertained to publications, continuing education, and BYU leadership week. Dated 1957 to 1962.
Office of the President records on Extension Division, 1958-1963
Contains memos, letters, brochures and reports from staff in the BYU extension division. The materials pertain to publications, continuing education, and BYU leadership week. Dated 1958 to 1963.
Office of the President records on Extension Division, 1966
Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, BYU staff and general authorities about the Church Extension Division, including BYU satellite programs, Education Week, study abroad programs, and at-hom emcontinuing education programs. Also contains curriculum for these programs. Dated 1966.
Office of the President records on faculty, 1949-1956
Contains correspondence and documents regarding the Brigham Young University faculty between administration and other departments from 1949 to 1956. It largely discusses promotions, salary, faculty ratings/reviews, new faculty, and retirement.
Office of the President records on faculty, 1963
Contains letters and memos between BYU faculty and President Wilkinson discussing personal as well as academic issues. Also contains reports on faculty terminations, salaries, hiring and promotions. Dated 1963.