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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 251 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1962-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 20
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations. Dated 1962 to 1963.

Dates: 1962-1963

Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1968

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 11 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations such as missions and auxiliaries. Dated 1968.

Dates: 1968

Office of the President records on Church organizations , 1969

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 12 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations such as missions and auxiliaries. Dated 1969.

Dates: 1969

Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1970

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 13 Sub-Series 6
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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leaders and organizations at at Brigham Young University, such as memebers of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the First Presidency, Geneological Society, bishops, stakes, and missions. Dated 1970.

Dates: 1970

Office of the President records on church organizations, 1971

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 14 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos and correspondence on Church organizations at Brigham Young University. Includes material on topics such as Geneaology, General Conference, members of the Quorum of the Twelve, and individual correspondence with Church authorities. Dated 1971.

Dates: 1971

Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1972

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 15 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes memos, correspondence, articles, and news clippings on church organizations Brigham Young University. Includes material on general authorities, the Board of Trustees, and the Church school system. Dated 1972.

Dates: 1972

Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1973

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 16 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains materials pertaining to the office of President Ernest L. Wilkinson of Brigham Young University. Includes correspondence on Church organizations at Brigham Young University. Includes material such as correspondence with General authorities and with President Harold B. Lee. Dated 1973.

Dates: 1973

Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1965-1966

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

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations such as missions and auxiliaries. Dated 1965-1966.

Dates: 1965-1966

Office of the President records on Church organizations, 1967

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 10 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and leaders of the Church discussing Church organizations and BYU issues. Also contains reports on activities of church organizations such as missions and auxiliaries. Dated 1967.

Dates: 1967

Office of the President records on Church organizations and administration, 1970

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 13 Sub-Series 3
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: 1970