Interview with Lora Robertson Dysart, June 9, 1977

Partial Transcript: The following is an unrehearsed interview with Mrs. Lora Robertson Dysart, a 1920 graduate of the University of Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Lora Dysart talks about why she chose to attend the University of Kentucky and discusses her impressions of the school. She talks about majoring in botany and the quality of the school.

Keywords: Botany; Impressions; Overwhelmed; Paducah (Ky.); Quality of education

Subjects: College choice; College costs.; College environment; College majors; College students--Attitudes.; Universities and colleges--Ratings and rankings.; University of Kentucky. Department of Botany, Horticulture, and Agriculture

Partial Transcript: Who were some of your best or favorite professors?

Segment Synopsis: Dysart describes some of her favorite professors at the University of Kentucky. She talks about her relationships with her professors, their classes, and the field trips they took.

Keywords: Dr. Charles Shull; Favorite professors; Field trips; Frank McFarland; Friendly; Mary Frances Jewell McVey; Okefenokee Swamp; Personality; Professor Edward Farquhar; Relationship with students; William Funkhouser; William S. Webb

Subjects: College students--Social conditions; College teachers--Rating of.; College teachers--Social conditions; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky. Department of Botany, Horticulture, and Agriculture

Partial Transcript: Were you a member of a social sorority at the university?

Segment Synopsis: Dysart says she was not a member of a sorority at UK. She talks about attitudes towards Greek organizations on campus and discusses whether campus leaders were often members of fraternities or sororities.

Keywords: Campus organizations; Greek letter organizations; Leadership; Sororities

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Greek letter societies.

Partial Transcript: Did you live in a dormitory then?

Segment Synopsis: Dysart describes the experience of living in a dormitory at UK. She talks about relationships between roommates, social activities that were available for students, and whether any students lived off campus.

Keywords: Dances; Dormitories; Living conditions; Off-campus living; Patterson Hall; Relationships; Roommates; Social activities; Social events

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Student housing

Partial Transcript: Now could you talk a bit about some of the organizations you belonged to while you were a student at the university?

Segment Synopsis: Dysart discusses some of the student groups she belonged to at UK. She focuses on the Rafinesque Botany Club and describes their meetings and field trips.

Keywords: Field trips; Frank McFarland; Horace Mann Literary Society; Membership; Philosophian Society; Poster Club; Rafinesque Botany Club

Subjects: College environment; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; College teachers--Social conditions; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.

Partial Transcript: Now in the yearbook, uh, you are listed as having been a Blue Ridge Delegate.

Segment Synopsis: Dysart talks about being a Blue Ridge Delegate for the YWCA, and describes their trip to North Carolina for a meeting.

Keywords: Blue Ridge Delegates; Funding; Meetings; North Carolina; Summers; Trains; Traveling; YMCA; YWCA

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

Partial Transcript: Do you recall the annual tug-of-war hat was held at the university between the freshmen and the sophomores?

Segment Synopsis: Dysart discusses the hazing of freshmen at the university, and the rule that all freshmen must attend football games. She talks about Chapel, which was a mandatory event each day. She talks about other rules, pranks pulled at the university, and the role of student government on campus.

Keywords: Attendance; Chapel; Football games; Freshman-Sophomore Tug-of-War; Hazing; Mandatory; Pranks; Regulations; Rules; Shaving heads; Student council; Whistle; Women

Subjects: College discipline; College environment; College freshmen; College student government; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges--Administration.

Partial Transcript: Do you recall Henry S. Barker as president of the university during your first year there?

Segment Synopsis: Dysart discusses her recollections of university presidents Patterson, Barker, and McVey.

Keywords: Chapel; Cows; Dr. Frank McVey; Henry S. Barker; James K. Patterson; Mandatory; Popularity; Required; Speeches

Subjects: College administrators--Rating of; College presidents; College presidents--Dwellings; College students--Attitudes.; Universities and colleges--Administration.

Partial Transcript: Did you have much, uh, occasion to use the university library while you were a student, and if so did you find it adequate for your needs?

Segment Synopsis: Dysart talks about her use of the libraries at UK during her time as a student. She talks about the relationship between the university and the Lexington community, especially concerning students' misbehavior.

Keywords: Acceptance; Communication; Dr. Charles Shull; Frank McFarland; Misbehavior; Misconduct; Parades; Quality; Relationships; Rowdyism; Science Library; Students' needs; Winning

Subjects: Academic libraries.; College discipline; College environment; College facilities.; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Books and reading.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; College teachers.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University of Kentucky. Libraries; University towns

Partial Transcript: Were there many, uh, women professors other than in home ec. or girls' physical education?

Segment Synopsis: Dysart talks about the female faculty members she was aware of during her time as a student at UK. She talks about how World War I and the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 affected the university.

Keywords: Armistice; Celebrations; Closed; Dean Sarah Blanding; Dean of Women; Effects; French; German language; Military service; Protests; Role of women; WWI; World War I

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Social conditions; College teachers--Social conditions; Educators; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Women in education--Kentucky--Lexington; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher); World War, 1914-1918

Partial Transcript: Do you recall reading the campus newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel?

Segment Synopsis: Dysart discusses the popularity of the student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel. She talks about the interest in athletics on campus, the emphasis on football, and the popularity of pep rallies.

Keywords: Articles; Athletics; Basketball; Dr. Frank McVey; Emphasis; Football; Grades; Kentucky Kernel newspaper; Pep rallies; Track and field

Subjects: College athletes; College environment; College publications; College sports.; College student newspapers and periodicals; College students--Attitudes.; Universities and colleges--Periodicals.

Partial Transcript: Now President Barker had instituted an honor system at the University of Kentucky, uh, whereby professors were to leave the room while examinations were being given.

Segment Synopsis: Dysart discusses the effectiveness of the honor system instituted at UK. She talks about whether her college experiences influenced her life. She talks about students' attitudes in regard to things they did not like. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Acceptance; Books; Changes; Cheating; College education; College experiences; Discussion; Dislike; Exams; Henry S. Barker; Honesty; Honor system; Influence; Issues; Questioning; Science

Subjects: College administrators; College discipline; College environment; College presidents; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Examinations