BYU president Ernest L. WIlkinson reports that three members of the Board "were in favor of barring colored students from BYU."

Date
Nov 10, 1960
Type
Personal Journal / Diary
Source
Ernest L. Wilkinson
LDS
Hearsay
Direct
Reference

Ernest L. Wilkinson, Ernest L. Wilkinson Personal Diaries, November 10, 1960, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, UA 1000, Box 100, accesed December 9, 2022

Scribe/Publisher
Harold B. Lee Library
People
Harold B. Lee, Ernest L. Wilkinson
Audience
Unknown
Transcription

I reported to them [the Executive Committee] about a colored boy on campus having been a candidate for the vice presidency of a class and receiving a very large vote. They were very much concerned. Brother Lee looked at me and said in substance, "If a granddaughter of mine should ever go to BYU and become engaged to a colored boy there I would hold you responsible." I replied in substance that he ought to hold himself responsible because he was one of the members of the Board of Trustees that permitted the present policy; that if it was not right he ought to change it. I was directed to bring it up before the entire Board. The three members present were in favor of barring colored students from the BYU. This is a very serious problem on which, of course, there are obviously arguments on both sides but surely we will have to face it squarely and resolve it.

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