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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 393 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Admissions and Records, 1952-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums, letters, and reports on the topic of admissions and records. Admission topics include accreditation, scholarships and academic standards, and admission of individual students. Dates of record keeping 1952 to 1958.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1952-1958
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 Admissions and Records, 1958-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters, and reports on the topics of student enrollment patterns, financial aid, and individual students at BYU. Dated 1958 to 1962.

Dates: 1958-1962
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 African Americans, 1954-1955

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 37
Scope and Contents

Correspondence and reports regarding the status of black members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Includes experiences that people are reporting regarding the situations and rights of black people.

Dates: 1954-1955
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 African Americans, 1955-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 51
Scope and Contents

Contians news clippings, letters and memos discussing the position of black students at BYU and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dated 1955 to 1962.

Dates: 1955-1962
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 African Americans, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 56
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, clippings and articles about the Church's stance toward African American members. One article addressed the problem this stance could cause for Governor Romney's political career. Another was written by former BYU student Jeff Nye and criticized the Church for its policies toward African Americans. 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 alcoholism, 1951-1954

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 1 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Correspondence with the State Board of Alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous. The State Board of Alcoholism's newsletters. Includes articles about the effects and use of alcohol. Dated 1951 to 1954.

Dates: 1951-1954
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 Alumni Association, 1965

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 8 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains memos and letters about alumni associations, alumni fundraising and donations. Also contains Brigham Young Alumnus magazine. Dated 1965.

Dates: 1965
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 Alumni Association, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains letters, memos, reports, brochures and clippings on the topic of the BYU Alumni Association reviewing its financial contributions to BYU. Also contains memos to President Wilkinson about his speaking at a conference at Aspen Grove. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966
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 Alumni Association, 1964

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

Contains letters and memos concerning BYU alumnus. Topics include Aspen Grove, personnel and condolences. Dated 1964.

Dates: 1964
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 Alumni Association, 1958-1962

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

Contains letters and memos regarding alumni donations to BYU as well as materials on the 1962 senior class and Aspen Grove. Dated 1958 to 1962.

Dates: 1958-1962
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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