Interview with Emilie Smith, June 29, 1978

Partial Transcript: --unrehearsed interview with Emilie Varden Smith, head of the catalog department at the University of Kentucky Library.

Segment Synopsis: Emilie Smith is introduced. She discusses her first position at the University of Kentucky Library as a student in 1942, and her subsequent position as a staff member in the cataloging department in 1946.

Keywords: Biological sciences library; Cataloging departments; Jobs; Library branches; Margaret Tuttle; Student assistants; Working

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Employment.; College students--Social conditions; Universities and colleges--Employees; Universities and colleges--Professional staff; University of Kentucky. Libraries

Partial Transcript: How had the role as--your role changed over the years?

Segment Synopsis: Smith discusses how her role at the library has changed over the years. She discusses a frustrating situation in which she was responsible for the cataloging department but had no real power over it. She talks about how catalogers were often used to cover shifts in libraries when other librarians were absent.

Keywords: Authority; Catalogers; Cataloging; Cataloging departments; Dr. Lawrence Thompson; Frustrating; Head of department; Job positions; Library branches; Monographs; Policies; Responsibilities; Seniority; Serials; Substituting

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; College administrators; College department heads; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Employees; Universities and colleges--Professional staff; University of Kentucky. Libraries

Partial Transcript: Well what were faculty and students like in, in the 1940s when, when you first came?

Segment Synopsis: Smith describes the UK Library during the 1940s, including the level of faculty and administrative support, dress codes for staff, and the effects of World War II on the campus.

Keywords: Book selection; Dr. Herman Donovan; Dress codes; Enrollment; Growth; Margaret I. King; Margaret Tuttle; Marjorie Hornsby; Post-WWII; Supportive; World War II

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; Campus size; Clothing and dress.; College administrators; College buildings.; College environment; College presidents; College students--Attitudes.; College teachers.; Educators; Fashion.; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Admission; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky. Libraries; World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: What kind of admini--you were under Ms. King for a while--

Segment Synopsis: Smith describes several library directors including Margaret King, Lawrence Thompson, Stuart Forth, and William Gardner. She discusses their relationships with the library staff and gives her opinion on their abilities as directors.

Keywords: Bill Lee; Dr. Lawrence Thompson; Dr. Stuart Forth; Fears; Growth; Interest; Library collections; Library of Congress; Margaret I. King; Personality; Popularity; Quality; Relationships; Salary; William Gardner

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; College administrators--Rating of; College environment; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Professional staff; University of Kentucky. Libraries; Women in education--Kentucky--Lexington; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: Well how did it feel or what was the reaction to librarians when they had worked for a woman and suddenly worked for a man?

Segment Synopsis: Smith discusses the differences between working for a female director and working for a male director. She talks about the status of librarians on campus compared to the faculty and discusses librarians' representation on the Faculty Senate and in the AAUP. She talks about the status of women at the university, both in the library and as professors.

Keywords: Alcohol; American Association of University Professors (AAUP); Attitudes; Changes; Continuing education; Dr. Lawrence Thompson; Dr. Stuart Forth; Duties; Faculty Senate; Home economics; Job positions; Married; Masters degrees; Norma Cass; Outspoken; Representation; Retirement pay; Roles; Salary; Shocking; Staff development; Status of women; Support; Teaching; Teas; University of Illinois; Vodka

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; College administrators; College environment; College teachers--Salaries, etc.; College teachers--Social conditions; Educators; Sex discrimination in higher education.; Sexism in higher education; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Employees; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Professional staff; University of Kentucky. Libraries; Women in education--Kentucky--Lexington; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: What was the library's reaction when the first negro was admitted to graduate school in 1948?

Segment Synopsis: Smith speaks briefly about the integration of the University of Kentucky. She talks about changes in library technology. She talks about teaching for several years at the University of Illinois.

Keywords: Changes; Continuing education; Reactions; Technical services; Technology; University of Illinois

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College environment; College integration; College students--Social conditions; College teaching.; Minorities in higher education; University of Kentucky. Libraries

Partial Transcript: Well what's be--what has been your greatest sa--satisfaction in working in the UK Libraries?

Segment Synopsis: Smith discusses what she believes are her greatest satisfactions throughout her career, as well as some of the situations which disappointed her.

Keywords: Air conditioning; Cataloging; Consistency; Continuing education; Disappointments; Encouragement; Frustration; Gail Kennedy; Hours of operation; Masters degrees; Raises; Salary; Valuable; William Gardner

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; College administrators; College department heads; Universities and colleges--Administration.; Universities and colleges--Employees; Universities and colleges--Professional staff; University of Kentucky. Libraries

Partial Transcript: What were some of the cataloging practices that have changed? Internal practices like red-edging cards, um...

Segment Synopsis: Smith discusses some of the cataloging practices that have changed over the years. She talks about why the cataloging department has changed locations several times during her career.

Keywords: "Bib Room"; Accession numbers; Accessioning; Basements; Card catalog; Cataloging practices; Changes; Dr. Stuart Forth; Filing; King Addition; King North; M. I. King Library; Moving; Red-edging; Revision; Supervision; William Gardner

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; College buildings.; College facilities.; Universities and colleges--Employees; Universities and colleges--Professional staff; University of Kentucky. Libraries

Partial Transcript: Do you remember any interesting stories about the librarian and staff?

Segment Synopsis: Smith tells stories about reference librarian Norma Cass, who she says was a formidable woman.

Keywords: Fears; Formidable; Kinsey Reports; Norma Cass; Personality; Reference librarians; Strict

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; Universities and colleges--Employees; Universities and colleges--Professional staff; University of Kentucky. Libraries

Partial Transcript: You asked earlier about practices that we no longer follow.

Segment Synopsis: Smith talks more about how cataloging practices have changed over the years. She sums up her career at the University of Kentucky Library. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Card catalog; Disappointments; Technological advancements; Technology; Typing; Xerox

Subjects: Academic librarians; Academic libraries.; Universities and colleges--Employees; Universities and colleges--Professional staff; University of Kentucky. Libraries