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 61 Collections and/or Records:
Office of the President records on Iran, 1951-1955
Contains correspondence between General Authorities, government officials, and BYU from 1951 to 1955. The correspondence pertains to BYU's involvement in the United States' Four Point program in Iran.
Office of the President records on J. Bracken Lee, 1953-1956
Contains news clippings, letters, memorandums and reports from 1953 to 1956 concerning Utah Governor Joseph Bracken Lee.
Office of the President records on junior colleges, 1949-1955
Contains histories, articles, reports and correspondence pertaining to junior colleges in Utah between 1949 to 1955. The majority of the correspondence and articles are opinions about the possibility of several of these colleges being transferred to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Office of the President records on Karl G. Maeser, 1952-1955
Correspondence about a book written by Alma P. Burton about Karl G. Maeser. Also included are lists describing some of the work done by Maeser. The letters discuss the distribution of the books as well as the editing. Dated 1952 to 1955.
Office of the President records on Leadership Week, 1950-1953
Contains letters, memorandums and schedules concerning leadership weeks at BYU and in Canadian stakes from 1950 to 1953.
Office of the President records on Photo Studio, 1952-1954
Contains receipts and memorandums concerning photographs taken by the BYU photography studio. The photographs are both personal portraits as well as photographs of buildings for campus use, dated 1952 to 1954.
Office of the President records on Physical Plant Department, 1948-1957
Contains reports, correspondence and letters about the physical campus of Brigham Young University, dated 1948 to 1957. The materials concern property acquistion, budgets and proposals for new buildings as well as modifications to existing buildings, and dedication of many buildings, notably many new student residence halls.
Office of the President records on placement, 1951-1956
This subseries contains correpsondence regarding the placement of both students and teachers. Much of it is work after a person's experience at Brigham Young University, as well as placement opportunities during a student's time at BYU. Student employment information at BYU is also included. Materials dated 1951 to 1956.
Office of the President records on proposed college in Hawaii, 1951-1957
Contains letters, memorandums and reports from 1951 to 1957. The materials pertain to the proposed buillding of a junior college in Laie, Hawaii.
Office of the President records on public relations, 1951-1956
Materials on public relations, including letters, memorandums, reports, brochures regarding publications, press, radio and TV, fundraising, research, alumni, and councils, all relating to the university's image and relationships with others. Dated 1951 to 1956.