Wilkinson, Ernest L., 1899-1978
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, 1971Deem, 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 234 Collections and/or Records:
Etchings relating to Brigham Young University
Contains artist's renderings of Brigham Young and another man in Emigration Canyon, and of various campus scenes at Brigham Young Academy and Brigham Young University, including: bell tower, Karl G. Maeser Building, Wasatch Mountains, graduation, whitewashing the Y, Lewis Building fire, man and woman by canal, marching band, Ernest L. Wilkinson addressing assembly for new students, and flag raising. C. L. Purcell identified as artist on some pieces. Contains 21 items.
Heber G. Wolsey Administrative Council records
Includes correspondence concerning policies and procedures of the Board of Trustees, colleges and departments, committees, research, Auxiliary Services, Church School System, Public Relations, office of university programs, University Relations, students, and Communication Services.
Heber G. Wolsey files on athletic relations with University of Washington (re: the Black Issue), 1970-1971
Contains various files and records.
Heber G. Wolsey policy, procedure and correspondence files, 1957-1971
Contains various files and records.
Honorary memberships for Brigham Young University presidents
Certificates of honorary membership in the Sons of Utah Pioneers for all Brigham Young University presidents from Warren Dusenberry through Cecil O. Samuelson.
I remember Ernest : vignettes on Dr. Ernest L. Wilkinson, president of Brigham Young University, 1951-1971
Author relates some of his personal experiences with President Ernest L. Wilkinson which reflect on the latter's work ethic, personality, uses of print media to promote the university, perspectives on BYU athletics, sense of humor, and interactions with other people.
Inside the Wilkinson era
Interview by Heber G. Wolsey with Ben E. Lewis, Robert K. Thomas, Harvey Taylor, Sam Brewster, and Bruce L. Olsen concerning their personal experiences with Ernest L. Wilkinson. Wilkinson's resignation as president of Brigham Young University had been announced in March 1971, and the inteviews were recorded as a tribute to him.
Christen Jensen papers
Collection includes correspondence, reports, memoranda, minutes, and examinations concerning Brigham Young University transfer credits, awards, faculty meetings, graduate school, Franklin S. Harris, Ernest L. Wilkinson, history, political science, and public administration.
L. Tom Perry Special Collections records on Ernest L. Wilkinson Collection open house
Video of the open house commemorating the availability of the Ernest L. Wilkinson Collections to public research. Also includes a flyer announcing the open house.
Motion Picture Studio footage of Brigham Young University
Materials include 26 reels of film footage of the Brigham Young University campus. Digital copies of the film are also included in the form of 26 DVDs. Footage dates from 1949 to 1981 and is silent.