Interview with John S. Fish, January 26, 1976

Partial Transcript: The following is an unrehearsed interview with Mr. John S. Fish for the Alumni/Faculty Oral History Project of the University of Kentucky Library.

Segment Synopsis: John Fish is introduced. He discusses the World War I draft, and his experiences teaching in several states after graduating from the University of Kentucky.

Keywords: Assistant county agents; Deans; Draft; Georgia; Graduation; Ohio; T. R. Bryant; Tennessee; Vocational agriculture; W. D. Nicholls; WWI; World War I

Subjects: Agricultural extension work; Agriculture--Study and teaching; College choice; College graduates; Teachers; World War, 1914-1918

Partial Transcript: Mr. Fish then let's go back then and, and find out when you first went to the University of Kentucky, and what your first impressions were of the school, and, uh, why you chose to go there.

Segment Synopsis: Fish talks about teaching in Scott County, Kentucky before attending the University of Kentucky. He talks about his first impressions of the university and the other students. He talks about where he lived while attending the university.

Keywords: Age; Bathrooms; Boarding houses; Dormitories; Friendly; Haircuts; Impressions; Scott County (Ky.)

Subjects: Agriculture--Study and teaching; College environment; College facilities.; College freshmen; College seniors; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Student housing; Teachers

Partial Transcript: Uh, I guess, uh, then, uh, as we've discussed your major field of interest was in agriculture.

Segment Synopsis: Fish gives his opinions on the quality of the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky. He discusses Dean Scovell and how the students felt about him. He talks about his favorite professors in the College of Agriculture. He talks about working at the College of Agriculture experiment station while in school. Fish discusses university presidents Barker and Patterson.

Keywords: Bottle washer; Chemistry department; Dean Melville A. Scovell; Dr. Peters; Experiment station; Favorite professors; Henry S. Barker; Impressions; Issues; James K. Patterson; Personality; Professor Kinney; Professor T. R. Bryant; Quality; Relationships; University presidents; W. D. Nicholls

Subjects: College administrators; College department heads; College majors; College presidents; College students--Employment.; College teachers--Rating of.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky. College of Agriculture

Partial Transcript: Well let me ask you, uh, were you a member of a fraternity or any type of social club at the university?

Segment Synopsis: Fish talks about attending few social events because he worked his way through school. He talks about the jobs he held, including delivering mail and working in the Lexington prison.

Keywords: Agriculture club; Experiment station; Fraternities; Jobs; Mail; National Guard; Principal; Prison; Social activities; Social life; Studying; Working

Subjects: College environment; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Economic conditions; College students--Employment.; College students--Social conditions

Partial Transcript: Well you mentioned the, uh, National Guard.

Segment Synopsis: Fish talks about being required to attend chapel and take ROTC courses. He talks about some of the traditions at the university including the freshman/sophomore tug-of-war, parades, and other social activities, including events that were banned by the university administration. He talks about the hazing freshman went through and how he avoided it.

Keywords: Banned; Chapel; Confrontation; Dances; Death; Freshman/Sophomore tug-of-war; Haircuts; Hazing; Henry S. Barker; Killed; Parades; Required courses; Required credits; Rules; Social events; Speakers; Traditions; Turkey trot and drag

Subjects: College administrators; College credits; College discipline; College environment; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Religious life; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Safety measures.; University of Kentucky. Army ROTC

Partial Transcript: Yeah. Well in, uh--while you were at UK enrollment nearly doubled, I think.

Segment Synopsis: Fish talks about the increase in enrollment at UK during his time there and how it affected the classes. He talks about how the Lexington community felt about the university. He talks about the student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel. He gives his opinion on the university library.

Keywords: Agricultural extension library; Changes; Checking out books; Class size; Community; Enrollment; Kentucky Kernel newspaper; Relationships

Subjects: Academic libraries.; College attendance; College facilities.; College student newspapers and periodicals; College students--Books and reading.; Journalism, College; Universities and colleges--Admission; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University towns

Partial Transcript: I suppose that because of your work you didn't get to participate in the athletic teams--

Segment Synopsis: Fish talks about the importance of athletics during his time as a student. He talks about how he felt about students being required to buy tickets to athletic events even if they did not attend the event. He mentions some issues that occurred involving athletic programs, including player ineligibility and trouble with the police during a parade.

Keywords: Athletic events; Athletics; Ineligibility; Involvement; Parades; Police; Tickets; Trouble

Subjects: College athletes; College environment; College football players; College sports--Economic aspects--United States.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Economic conditions; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Finance

Partial Transcript: Uh, how important were polit--was politics on campus?

Segment Synopsis: Fish talks about whether students on campus were involved with state or national politics. He talks about how his college experiences lead him to a career path he probably never would have considered otherwise.

Keywords: Assistant county agents; Bardstown (Ky.); Changes; College education; College experiences; Elections; Philosophy; Politics; Students; Vocational agriculture

Subjects: Agriculture--Study and teaching; College graduates; College students--Employment.; College students--Political activity.; Teachers; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.

Partial Transcript: Well let me ask you this about your college experiences: uh, as you know college professors have often come under attack for being, uh, very liberal both politically and socially.

Segment Synopsis: Fish talks about the claim that many college professors are liberal. He talks about whether students on campus discussed the building tension in Europe before World War I. He talks about the company he served with in the National Guard and how he could have been sent to Mexico. He discusses why he was not drafted for the war and what he did instead. He talks about continuing to support the University of Kentucky as an alumni. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Athletic teams; Classes; Discussion; Enlisting; Fans; Georgia; Liberal; Mexico; Military company; Ohio; Professors; Support; Tennessee; Weight

Subjects: Agriculture--Study and teaching; College environment; College graduates; College sports.; College teachers--Political activity; United States--National Guard; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky; World War, 1914-1918