Skip to main content

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 associations, 1961-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 11
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others on the subject of various academic associations to which BYU belongs. Also contains reports, conference materials and news from these associations. Dated 1961 to 1964.

Dates: 1961-1964

Office of the President records on associations, 1968

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 11 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains lists of BYU approved organizations, reports and news clippings on BYU alumni activity, memos from President Wilkinson about Aspen Grove, and minutes and reports on the discoveries of the New Wrld Archaeological Foundation. Dated 1968.

Dates: 1968

Office of the President records on associations , 1969

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 12 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, other BYU administrators and members of academic educational associations. Also contains reports of association activity, conferences and finances. Dated 1969.

Dates: 1969

Office of the President records on associations, 1969

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 12 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between BYU officials and alumni discussing alumni budgets, activities at Aspen Grove, and Founders Day celebrations. Also contains reports and articles produced by the New World Archaeology Foundation. Dated 1969.

Dates: 1969

Office of the President records on associations, 1970

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 13 Sub-Series 4
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 associations and organizations such as the Alumni Association, New World Archeological Foundation, and the Women's Club. Dated 1970.

Dates: 1970

Office of the President records on associations, 1972

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 15 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents From the Collection:

Contains the presidential papers of Ernest L. Wilkinson span the years 1949 to 1975. They cover his pre-appointment period to the presidency, his presidential administration and his post-presidential activities. The collection documents University activities, programs, policies and procedures, and public relations with other universities, national, state and local organizations. It contains correspondence, memos, reports, meeting minutes, newspaper clippings, and related materials.

Dates: 1972

Office of the President records on associations, 1964

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

Contains letters, memos and reports of the BYU New World Archaeological Foundation as well as various memos and letters about BYU women and the BYU Credit Union. Dated 1964.

Dates: 1964

Office of the President records on associations, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains the 1966 annual field report from the New World Archaeological Foundation, accompanied by photocopies of photographs and memos. Also contains a letter and memo inviting President Wilkinson to the Credit Union's annual meeting. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966

Office of the President records on associations, 1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports and other materials from a BYU conference, Credit Union, and the New World Archaeological Foundation Dated 1967.

Dates: 1967

Office of the President records on automobiles, 1958-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 82
Scope and Contents

Contians memos between BYU staff about automobiles on campus, a report on the use of automobiles, and the 1958 faulty handbook for Syracuse University. Dated 1958 to 1962.

Dates: 1958-1962