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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 220 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on J. Bracken Lee, 1953-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 30
Scope and Contents

Contains news clippings, letters, memorandums and reports from 1953 to 1956 concerning Utah Governor Joseph Bracken Lee.

Dates: 1953-1956
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 junior colleges, 1949-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 28
Scope and Contents

Contains histories, articles, reports and correspondence pertaining to junior colleges in Utah between 1949 to 1955. The majority of the correspondence and articles are opinions about the possibility of several of these colleges being transferred to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dates: 1949-1955
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 junior colleges, 1955-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 33
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos and reports dicussing the benefits and operations of junior colleges. Dated 1955 to 1958.

Dates: 1955-1958
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 library, 1950-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 32
Scope and Contents

Memos, correspondence, and procedures regarding the operation of the campus library, dated 1950 to 1956.

Dates: 1950-1956
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 library, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 54
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos about books and resources in the BYU student library and J. Reuben Clark law library. Also contains a report on science and religion. 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 library, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 49
Scope and Contents

Contains reports, memos and letters on the BYU library, especially on collection materials and donations made to the library. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962
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 lien law, 1952

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 33
Scope and Contents

Contains materials regarding the repeal of the lien law in Utah. Includes news articles explaining the law and the pros and cons, a report arguing for the removal of lien law, and correspondence discussing the pros and cons of the law. Dated 1952.

Dates: 1952
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 motion pictures, 1952-1956

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 36
Scope and Contents

Correspondence and reports discussing the possibility of starting a motion picture production at BYU, as well as films produced about the university and it's students. Dated 1951 to 1956.

Dates: 1952-1956
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 National Thrift Committee, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 57
Scope and Contents

Contians memos, reports and brochures distributed by the National Thrift Committee aimed at helping people develop frugal habits. 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 organizations, 1973

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 16 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes correspondence and Legislative Committee materials related to te Chamber of Commerce. Dated 1973.

Dates: 1973
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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