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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 53 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on scholarships, 1949-1957

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 58
Scope and Contents

Contains lists of scholarship recipients as well as reports on processes for receiving scholarships. Also contains memorandums and letters concerning scholarships. Dated 1949 to 1957.

Dates: 1949-1957
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on sex education, 1953-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 52
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, memorandums and proposed curriculum for sex education in schools. Also contains a survey regarding sexual practices of men and women inside and outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1953-1955.

Dates: 1953-1955
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Student Personnel Services, 1951-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 60
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and memorandums describing a variety of special student cricumstances. The materials describe crimes by students, transfer student situations and G.I. bills for Korean veterans. Dated 1951 to 1955.

Dates: 1951-1955
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on students, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 56
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums, correspondence, reports and other publications, dated between 1951 and 1956. The materials regard personal problems of individual students such as mission deferments, mortality and counseling. Also contains recruitment materials for high schools and colleges.

Dates: 1951-1956
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on Summer School, 1951-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 61
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memorandums and informational and promotional brochures concerning scheduling and details for BYU Summer School. Dated 1951 to 1955.

Dates: 1951-1955
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on television and radio, 1951-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 64
Scope and Contents

Consists of reports, correspondence and memos concerning the television industry. Mainly dealing with the Utah Educational Television Foundation and studies on the effects of televison on education.

Dates: 1951-1956
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on tickets, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 32
Scope and Contents

Contains tickets and memos coordinating travel of BYU staff and faculty. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on travel, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 76
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos discussing BYU faculty and students' study abroad finances. Also contains a lengthy travel reimbursement report. Dated 1963.

Dates: 1963
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on travel, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 61
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters describing and arranging proposed travels by BYU faculty and students. Dated 1957 to 1958.

Dates: 1957-1958
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

Office of the President records on travel, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 33
Scope and Contents

Contains travel schedules of BYU faculty and staff as well as memos and letters coordinating these travel plans. Dated 1959.

Dates: 1959
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 1086, Office of the President records / Office of the President records

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