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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 37 Collections and/or Records:

Office of the President records on Brigham Young High School, 1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 14
Scope and Contents

Contains memos from President Wilkinson on Brigham Young High School's graduation. Also contains a news clipping on awards won by students. 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 Brigham Young University, 1950-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 12
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos to and from President Wilkinson on various issues such as standards, women, high school, and the history of BYU. Dated 1950 to 1962.

Dates: 1950-1962
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 charts, 1960-1962

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

Contains an index of charts kept in the basement of the Maeser building as well as memos between President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty discussing these charts. Dated 1960 to 1962.

Dates: 1960-1962
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 curriculum, 1960-1961

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 26
Scope and Contents

Contains memos discussing BYU curriculum as well as a schedule of all available BYU courses. Dated 1960 to 1961.

Dates: 1960-1961
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 department chairmen, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 27
Scope and Contents

Contains memos between Preident Wilkinson and heads of BYU departments. Also contains a list of all BYU department chairmen. Dated 1959 to 1962.

Dates: 1959-1962
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 enrollment, 1959-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 30
Scope and Contents

Contains statistics, charts and reports on BYU enrollment, summer school enrollment, changes in enrollment over time, and projected future enrollment. Also contains statistics on students. Dated 1959 to 1963.

Dates: 1959-1963
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 federal aid to education, 1959-1964

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 33
Scope and Contents

Contains letters between President Wilkinson and government leaders in Salt Lake City and the federal govenment on the topic of federal aid, scholarships and grants to BYU. Also contains reports with statistics and facts about financial aid to education. Dated 1959 to 1964.

Dates: 1959-1964
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 finances, 1957-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 26
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, correspondence and reports on BYU finances and audits. Dated 1957 to 1958.

Dates: 1957-1958
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 finances, 1950-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 34
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and other BYU faculty discussing use of BYU funds. Also contains financial reports on past and future proposed budgets for BYU. Dated 1950 to 1963.

Dates: 1950-1963
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 Freedoms Foundation, 1959-1962

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 4 Sub-Series 35
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson and Freedoms Foundation. Dated 1959-1962.

Dates: 1959-1962
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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