Interview with Mrs. John Barrow, September 28, 1977

Partial Transcript: Interview with Mrs. John Barrow, Lexington, Kentucky, September 28th, 1977. Mrs. Barrow is the granddaughter of Dr. Frank McVey. [Tape stops.] So, I'd really, uh, like to hear more of your story about, uh, the time you spent with your grandfather-------(??)-------Frances.

Segment Synopsis: Talbert asks Barrow about the time she spent with her grandparents. Barrow explains that, during her childhood, she spent most of her days before and after school with them. Barrow describes how important they were in her life and what her day consisted of as a child. Barrow particularly discusses the impact her grandfather had upon her reading books. Barrow talks about her grandfather in great depth. She talks about things he loved and enjoyed doing. She also describes the impact her grandfather's lessons had upon her. Barrow explains the daily routines at her grandparents' house and how they never treated her like a child, but as an individual.

Keywords: After school care; After-school care; Childhood memories; Chores; Daily routines; Dr. Frank L. McVey; Dr. Frank McVey; Frank L. McVey; Frank McVey; Grandparents; Great Depression; Mackinaw City (Mich.); Mary Frances Jewell; Mary Frances Jewell McVey; Picnics; University of Kentucky presidents; University presidents; Virginia Barrow; Virginia M. Barrow; Virginia Murray Barrow; Virginia Murray Tilton Barrow; WWII; War rationing; World War II

Subjects: College presidents; College presidents' spouses; College presidents--Dwellings; Depressions--1929; Grandparents; McVey, Frances Jewell, 1889-1945; McVey, Frank LeRond, 1869-1953; Universities and colleges--Administration.; University of Kentucky; World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: Maxwell Place was always like a...zoo.

Segment Synopsis: Barrow explains what living at the presidents home on the University of Kentucky campus, Maxwell Place, was like a zoo. Barrow describes the setting of her grandmother's tea parties. Barrow talks about her "family time" on Sunday evening and about guests of honor such as Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.

Keywords: Charlotte Russe dessert; Dr. Frank L. McVey; Dr. Frank McVey; Eleanor Roosevelt; Frank L. McVey; Frank McVey; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Franklin Delano Roosevelt; Great Depression; Guests of honor; Mary Frances Jewell; Mary Frances Jewell McVey; Maxwell Place, University of Kentucky; Mrs. John Barrow; Political disagreements; Public interaction; Public tea parties; The Great Depression; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky presidents; University presidents; Virginia Barrow; Virginia M. Barrow; Virginia Murray Barrow; Virginia Murray Tilton Barrow

Subjects: College presidents; College presidents' spouses; College presidents--Dwellings; Depressions--1929; Grandparents; McVey, Frances Jewell, 1889-1945; McVey, Frank LeRond, 1869-1953; Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962; Universities and colleges--Administration.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Granddaddy was a very religious man.

Segment Synopsis: Barrow mentions that her grandfather was very religious, but talks about how he supported Darwin's theory of evolution. Barrow says that grace was always said at every meal, no matter how many or few people there were. She recounts her grandmother having Halloween parties for all of the grandchildren. Talbert and Barrow talk about her grandfather's love of sailing and of her father and grandfather's love of fishing. Barrow discusses how her grandfather put two-thirds of his family through the University of Kentucky. Talbert and Barrow talk about people who lived in her grandfather's garage, discussing whether or not people like Jesse Stuart and Happy Chandler lived in it at some point.

Keywords: "Happy" Chandler; Albert "Happy" Chandler; Albert B. "Happy" Chandler; Albert B. Chandler; Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler; Albert Benjamin Chandler; Albert Chandler; Darwin's Theory of Evolution; Dr. Frank L. McVey; Dr. Frank McVey; Family; Frank L. McVey; Frank McVey; Friends; Happy Chandler; Hobbies; Jesse Stuart; Mary Frances Jewell; Mary Frances Jewell McVey; Maxwell Place, University of Kentucky; Mrs. John Barrow; Religion; Religious households; Theory of Evolution; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky presidents; University presidents; University students; Virginia Barrow; Virginia M. Barrow; Virginia Murray Barrow; Virginia Murray Tilton Barrow

Subjects: College presidents; College presidents' spouses; College presidents--Dwellings; Grandparents; McVey, Frances Jewell, 1889-1945; McVey, Frank LeRond, 1869-1953; Religion.; Universities and colleges--Administration.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well now, we were only at Maxwell Place, living--now it could of been when we visited, but, uh, I was four when we moved there and nine--I was nine when we moved away--when we moved down on [Winston?] Road.

Segment Synopsis: Barrow discusses moving with her grandparents to a new house. She describes how her bedroom was right next to her grandparents' room, sharing the same bathroom with them. Barrow mentions that whenever she was sick, it was her grandparents who took care of her because her parents were far down the hall. Barrow does not recall any memories of her parents while living at this place, only having memories of her grandparents. Barrow recounts a story of when one of the rooms in the house caught on fire and of her Christmas memories. Barrow talks about one Christmas Eve where her family was celebrating together when a candle in her grandfather's room caught a curtain on fire. The fire had put itself out before anyone noticed, but it became tradition to have people check on the candles in each room periodically after that. Another time a candle caught the dining room table on fire. Barrow discusses what her grandfather was like after her grandmother died and how certain things remind her of her grandparents. Barrow says that she can distinctively remember the smell of her grandfather’s blend of tobacco. He made his own blend, and it had a certain smell when he smoked it that she will never forget. She smelled it once when she was older, and it reminded her of her grandfather. Barrow expresses that she wishes she could describe her grandfather better. Talbert remarks that its a shame that more students didn't realize what a warm person her grandfather was. Talbert and Barrow discuss her grandfather's successor, Dr. Herman Lee Donovan.

Keywords: Childhood memories; Christmas; Christmas 1900’s; Christmas celebrations; Christmas memories; Dr. Frank L. McVey; Dr. Frank McVey; Family; Fires; Frank L. McVey; Frank McVey; Holiday accidents; Holiday fires; Mary Frances Jewell; Mary Frances Jewell McVey; Maxwell Place, University of Kentucky; Mrs. John Barrow; Nostalgia; Tobacco; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky presidents; University presidents; Virginia Barrow; Virginia M. Barrow; Virginia Murray Barrow; Virginia Murray Tilton Barrow

Subjects: College presidents; College presidents' spouses; College presidents--Dwellings; Grandparents; McVey, Frances Jewell, 1889-1945; McVey, Frank LeRond, 1869-1953; Universities and colleges--Administration.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And, of course, my grandmother was not really my grandmother, although she raised me.

Segment Synopsis: Barrow describes all of the things that she and her grandmother would do together while she was growing up. She expresses the love she had for her grandmother and discusses the errands she ran with her grandmother, particularly trips to the market. Despite her grandmother not being her biological grandmother, Barrow explains that it was she who raised her. Talbert talks about his desire to meet people who had recollections of Dr. McVey's diary. Barrow remembers someone who immediately read her grandfather's diary following his death, but that it doesn't matter much to her to read it for some reason. Barrow talks about someone who made a copy of her grandfather's portrait for the University of North Dakota and other members of her family have had copies made since then. Talbert and Barrow discuss a bronze plaque made for Dr. McVey at the University of Kentucky. Barrow discusses her grandfather's uncanny foresight that allowed him to predict future problems at the university and for education itself. Talbert and Barrow talk about how extraordinary Dr. McVey was, particularly how he still produced books while working in university administration.

Keywords: Busing; Childhood memories; Dr. Frank L. McVey; Dr. Frank McVey; Education; Education costs; Foresight; Frank L. McVey; Frank McVey; Grandmothers; Integration; Markets; Mary Frances Jewell; Mary Frances Jewell McVey; Memories of grandmother; Mrs. John Barrow; Price of education; Street markets; Tax payers; Transportation; Transportation issues; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky presidents; University presidents; Virginia Barrow; Virginia M. Barrow; Virginia Murray Barrow; Virginia Murray Tilton Barrow

Subjects: College presidents; College presidents' spouses; College presidents--Dwellings; Grandparents; McVey, Frances Jewell, 1889-1945; McVey, Frank LeRond, 1869-1953; Universities and colleges--Administration.; University of Kentucky; University of North Dakota; Vision.