Interview with A. D. Albright, January 24, 1989

Partial Transcript: I wanted to start off today with a question that touches upon some of the things we've sort of chattered about before here the session began.

Segment Synopsis: A.D. Albright discusses "special interest" groups at the University of Kentucky, such as African American, female, and Appalachian students and their corresponding special interest study programs. He talks about the importance of these programs in shaping the identities of groups in a white, male-dominated society. Albright compares creating new programs for interest groups to promoting different kinds of chickens within the field of agriculture.

Keywords: Appalachian studies; Male-dominated societies; Special interest groups; Special programs; White-dominated societies

Subjects: African-American studies; Black studies; Hegemony; Minorities; University of Kentucky; Women's studies

Partial Transcript: Of course here at UK, a, a Black Studies program was never established to my knowledge.

Segment Synopsis: Albright discusses the relevancy of classes on the subjects of African American, Appalachian, and women's history at the University of Kentucky. He talks about how he believes the knowledge gained in "special interest" classes is not functional in broader society. Albright also discusses widening different fields already established, such as "urban" anthropology being introduced into Kentucky universities.

Keywords: 1960s; Affirmative action; African American history classes; Black history classes; Political identity

Subjects: Black studies; Identity; Nineteen sixties.; University of Kentucky; University of Louisville; Women's studies

Partial Transcript: Before we leave the topic, let me ask you one more question a, a, as it relates to it.

Segment Synopsis: Albright talks about how the University of Kentucky has failed to hire more women and African Americans as administrators. He discusses the high demand of these two demographics for those jobs, giving qualified candidates negotiating power. Albright talks about the shift in traditionally female careers, becoming more male-dominated as they become more economically lucrative.

Keywords: 1960s; 1970s; Dean of students; Murray State University; Opportunities; Women in administration

Subjects: African Americans; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education--Kentucky; Minorities; University of Kentucky; Women

Partial Transcript: You know, it seems to me that, you know, I know these are difficult things to do but it seems to me there are just some obvious things that could be done, if the right person could be found...

Segment Synopsis: Albright talks about how women are not hired for administration positions because they are not associated with being in those positions. He believes a female chancellor should seriously be considered for the University of Kentucky (UK). He then discusses his belief that people, regardless of their identity, should be allowed to pursue all of the same opportunities and have the same treatment. Albright discusses sexist beliefs about the librarians on UK's campus.

Keywords: Female influences; Race consciousness; Sexism in library science; Women in administration; Women's equality

Subjects: Equality; Equality before the law; Librarians; Prejudices; Sexism; Social stratification; Women; Women in education; Women in society

Partial Transcript: And one of the, uh, real important, uh, events that happened during the Oswald administration, during this period we, we, we were talking about is the, uh, introduction of a retirement system--

Segment Synopsis: Albright discusses being part of the creation of a new retirement system for faculty at the University of Kentucky. He recalls the various groups and departments who opposed creating a university retirement system, preferring to stay a part of the public school system retirement program, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA).

Keywords: Retired faculty; Retirement plans; Retirement systems; Teacher retirement plans; Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA); Universities and colleges--Retirement

Subjects: Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education--Finance--Kentucky; Education--Political aspects; Educational change.; Retirement; Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association; Teachers--Salaries, etc.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: But now, when, when it was cut back to nine months, the salaries remained the same--

Segment Synopsis: Albright discusses the changing roles of the professors at the University of Kentucky, as hiring assistant faculty changed the responsibilities of tenured faculty. He talks about implementing a rewards system in order to reward faculty for completing research or public service in their field of study.

Keywords: Faculty contracts; Faculty research; Faculty responsibilities; Rewards systems; Tenured professors; University of Kentucky--faculty activity

Subjects: Education, Higher--Kentucky; Educational change.; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Finance; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: This, uh, this institution, uh, was looked upon I think for quite a long time as mainly a Southern institution.

Segment Synopsis: Albright discusses how the University of Kentucky has historically been a Southern university in its treatment of women and African Americans, particularly because of the legacy of the 1904 Day Law. He talks about the importance of progressing away from the discriminatory past of Southern universities towards a more diverse student body and administration.

Keywords: Discriminatory legislation; Diversification of American colleges and universities; Kentucky--Day Law; Southern institutions; Southern universities and colleges

Subjects: African American college students.; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; American South; Berea College; College students--Social conditions; Racism; Women in higher education.

Partial Transcript: Yeah, we need to talk about the, uh, the curriculum reform that, uh--

Segment Synopsis: Albright discusses the curriculum changes that the University of Kentucky went through during the 1960s and 1970s. He talks about the Southern influences on the University of Kentucky through the decades, becoming more pronounced with particular presidents.

Keywords: Curricula changes; Curriculum reform; Southern universities and colleges; University of Kentucky presidents

Subjects: American South; Education, Higher--Kentucky--Lexington; Educational change--Kentucky; Universities and colleges--Curricula.; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky