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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 196 Collections and/or Records:

Smith, Robert memos, 1968

 Series — Box 454: Series 11 [Barcode: 31197239261206], Folder: 5
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 11 Sub-Series 2 Series 16
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other members of BYU administration as well as reports on BYU activity. Also contains sections on administrative councils and budgets for BYU departments. Dated 1968.

Dates: 1968

Summer School dean records

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231012045]
Identifier: UA 279
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence and payroll reports concerning summer school faculty (14 items). Materials date from between 1950 and 1953.

Dates: 1950-1953

Translation Sciences Institute annual reports and committee records, 1975-1992

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5592 Series 2 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains general records of the Translation Sciences Institute, including annual reports and policies from the Humanities Research Center, database distribution records, building records, and general files. Also included are two plaques in an oversize folder from the institute honoring Ernest L. Wilkinson and his contributions, 1975-1992.

Dates: 1975-1992

Unified Church School System reports

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231022960]
Identifier: UA 502
Scope and Contents

Contains reports concerning Brigham Young University, Institutes of Religion, Seminaries, Ricks College, LDS Business School, Juarez School, McCune School, and schools in Mexico in the Unified Church School System.

Dates: 1951-1961

University Communications newspaper clippings on Ernest L. Wilkinson

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1071
Scope and Contents

Contains newspaper clippings about Ernest L. Wilkinson, 1951-1971.

Dates: 1951-1971

University Relations Division advertising records, 1937-1971

 Series
Identifier: UA 586 Series 12
Scope and Contents note

Contains samples of advertising materials created by Brigham Young University from 1937 to 1971.

Dates: Other: 1937-1971

University Relations Division budget and finance records, 1947-1978

 Series
Identifier: UA 586 Series 4
Scope and Contents note

Budget and other financial reports.

Dates: Other: 1947-1978

University Relations Division general correspondence, 1951-1977

 Series
Identifier: UA 586 Series 2
Scope and Contents note

Other correspondence from 1951-1977 sorted alphabetically.

Dates: Other: 1951-1977

University Relations Division geographic news clippings, 1967-1973

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 586 Series 9 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains news clippings from various states from 1967 to 1973.

Dates: Other: 1967-1973

University Relations Division meeting minutes, 1968-1977

 Series
Identifier: UA 586 Series 3
Scope and Contents note

Minutes of meetings at BYU.

Dates: Other: 1968-1977