Interview with Charles A. Bickel, November 30, 1977

Partial Transcript: The following is an unrehearsed interview with Charles A. Bickel, a 1905 graduate of the University of Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Charles Bickel is introduced. He talks about why he chose to attend the State College of Kentucky (now called the University of Kentucky) after graduating from Manual Training High School. He talks about why he chose to live in a boardinghouse while attending school.

Keywords: Boardinghouses; Dining facilities; Dormitories; Engineering; Hamilton College; Impressions; Living conditions; Living situations; Manual Training High School; North Limestone Street; Off-campus living; Requirements; Roommates; Scholarships; State College of Kentucky; Tuition

Subjects: College choice; College costs.; College facilities.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Economic conditions; University of Kentucky. College of Engineering

Partial Transcript: Now your major field of interest and study at the university was mechanical engineering, is that correct?

Segment Synopsis: Bickel talks about majoring in mechanical engineering. He talks about the quality of his education, the size of his classes, his shop courses, and the annual field trips taken by the engineering classes.

Keywords: Blacksmithing; Class size; College courses; Cost; Crowded; Curriculum; Enrollment; Field trips; History; Industry; John Henry Neville; Manual Training High School; Mathematics; Mechanical Hall; Mechanical engineering; Popularity; Quality of education; Shop classes

Subjects: College environment; College facilities.; College majors; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; College teachers--Rating of.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Curricula.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky. College of Engineering; University of Kentucky. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

Partial Transcript: Now one of the requirements for graduation, I believe, in, in engineering was that you write a senior thesis.

Segment Synopsis: Bickel talks about the topic of his senior thesis, and why he was allowed to collaborate with a classmate.

Keywords: Baumgarten; Chicago (Ill.); Collaboration; Power plants; Roommates; Senior thesis

Subjects: College students--Conduct of life.; Universities and colleges--Curricula.; University of Kentucky. College of Engineering; University of Kentucky. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

Partial Transcript: Was the School of Engineering helpful then when you received your degree in, in helping you to secure a job?

Segment Synopsis: Bickel talks about the ease of finding a job after graduation as an engineering student.

Keywords: Assistance; Graduation; Job offers; Job opportunities; Promotions; Student courses; Transfers; Wages

Subjects: College graduates; College students--Employment.; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.; University of Kentucky. College of Engineering; University of Kentucky. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

Partial Transcript: Do you recall who some of your best or favorite professors were at the University of Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Bickel talks about some of his favorite professors in engineering and their relationships with the students. He tells a story about the pranks students played on a history professor who he says was nearly blind.

Keywords: Assignments; Blind; Dean F. Paul Anderson; Engineering students; Favorite professors; Help; Jack Neville; Pranks; Professor John Faig; Relationship with students; Requirements; Senior thesis; Teaching styles

Subjects: College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Books and reading.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; College teachers--Rating of.; College teachers--Social conditions; College teaching.; College textbooks; Universities and colleges--Faculty.

Partial Transcript: James K. Patterson was president of the college while you were a student there. Did, did you know Mr. Patterson?

Segment Synopsis: Bickel discusses students' attitudes about university president James Patterson. He talks about being required to attend daily meetings called Chapel as a student. He talks about the rules students were required to follow and discusses the enforcement of these rules.

Keywords: Aloof; Announcements; Brothers; Chapel; Cows; Drinking; Enforcement; Informants; Infractions; James K. Patterson; Moonshine; Nicknames; Personality; Popularity; Regulations; Relationship with students; Rules; Speeches; Spies; Strict; Tyrant; Walter K. Patterson

Subjects: College administrators--Rating of; College discipline; College environment; College presidents; College students--Alcohol use; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges--Administration.

Partial Transcript: Do you recall what a, a typical day's schedule for a student would be?

Segment Synopsis: Bickel describes the daily activities of an engineering student at the State College of Kentucky.

Keywords: Chapel; College classes; Daily schedules; Drafting; Homework; Jobs; Laboratory; Lunch breaks; Military drills

Subjects: College environment; College students--Books and reading.; College students--Conduct of life.; University of Kentucky. College of Engineering

Partial Transcript: You don't happen to remember a student who was there at the time you were by the name of Herman Schultz?

Segment Synopsis: Bickel is asked about a male student who dressed in women's clothing to attend a women's basketball game. He talks about local hangouts, including bars on North Limestone Street. He talks about some of the pranks played by students. The interviewer discusses the Freshmen-Sophomore Flag Rush.

Keywords: Bars; Busy; Church; Damage; Drinking; Fights; Freshman-Sophomore Flag Rush; Freshman-Sophomore Tug-of-War; Halloween; Hazing; Herman Schultz; Local hangouts; Misbehavior; Misconduct; North Limestone Street; Outhouses; Pranks; Regulations; Reputations; Rowdiness; Rowdyism; Saloons; Shaving heads; Social events; Social life; Weekends; Women's basketball

Subjects: Campus violence; College discipline; College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; University towns

Partial Transcript: Each generation of college students seems to acquire a label.

Segment Synopsis: Bickel talks about the attitudes of students at State College of Kentucky prior to World War I, and discusses their level of interest in politics.

Keywords: Generations; Interest; Labels; Politics; Pre-WWI; Serious; Status quo; Voting age

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

Partial Transcript: What about athletics? Uh, did, did athletics play an important role on campus at that time?

Segment Synopsis: Bickel talks about State College's biggest athletic rival, Kentucky University (now called Transylvania University). He talks about the various sports that were played, and tells a story about the school hiring men to play football for them.

Keywords: Athletics; Attendance; Baseball teams; Basketball team; Cheating; Cheerleaders; Churches; Fields; Football teams; Hiring; Kentucky University; Lakes; Losing; Rivals; Transylvania University; Winning

Subjects: College environment; College sports--Corrupt practices; College sports.; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions

Partial Transcript: Were there very many women students, period?

Segment Synopsis: Bickel discusses the role of women as students and faculty. He talks about the lack of a student newspaper or yearbook. He says there was no student government and talks about possible attitudes towards such an organization at that time.

Keywords: Representation; Status quo

Subjects: College administrators; College environment; College student government; College student newspapers and periodicals; College students--Social conditions; College teachers--Social conditions; College yearbooks; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Women in education--Kentucky--Lexington; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: Could you tell me something about the activities connected with Commencement Week?

Segment Synopsis: Bickel talks about the activities of Commencement Week, including commencement speakers, senior luncheons, and Class Days. The interviewer tells a story about a student who was denied his diploma for writing a speech criticizing faculty and administrators.

Keywords: "Class Grumbler"; Chapel; Class Days; Commencement speakers; Commencement week; Criticism; Diplomas; Faculty Senate; Fountains; Graduation; Karl Dietrich; Luncheons; Main Building; Mechanical Hall; Senior class; Senior drawing room; Suspension

Subjects: College administrators; College discipline; College environment; College seniors; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Political activity.; College students--Social conditions; Student protesters; Universities and colleges--Administration.

Partial Transcript: It's often said, Mr. Bickel, that a college education and experience change a person greatly.

Segment Synopsis: Bickel talks about the effects of a college education, and discusses whether he would change anything about his experiences. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Changes; College education; College experiences; Effects

Subjects: College facilities.; College graduates; Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.