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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 290 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Alumni Association, 1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1967
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 appointments, 1963

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

Contains memos between President Wilkinson and BYU faculty organizing his appointments for various university president duties. 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 appreciation, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains letters of appreciation to President Wilkinson from members of the community for various services. 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 Arab Development Society, 1962-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Arab Development Society discussing daily operations and special circumstances of the program. Also contains reports about operations of the program. Dated 1962 to 1963.

Dates: 1962-1963
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 Arab Development Society, 1959

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 5 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and others discussing the success and operations of the Arab Development Society. 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 articles of incorporation, 1949-1953

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Correspondence with the Board of Trustees regarding the articles of incorporation. A copy of the original deed for the university included. Record keeping dates from 1949 to 1953.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1949-1953
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 Aspen Grove, 1958

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

Contains memorandums addressed to President Harvey L. Taylor concerning the renovation and future use of Aspen Grove summer campgrounds, dated 1958.

Dates: 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 Aspen Grove, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents

Contains letters to and from President Wilkinson concerning the maintenance of Aspen Grove, especially hiring someone to take care of the property year-round. 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 assemblies, 1955-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and memos coordinating speakers at Brigham Young University devotionals, correspondence with various educational foundations, and newsletters from the American Council on Education. 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 assemblies, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents From the Series:

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 1956 to 1965.

Dates: 1963
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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