Interview with Charles E. Barnhart, October 15, 1996

Interview Summary

In this interview, Dr. Charles Barnhart discusses some of the theses and dissertations involving animal husbandry, primarily swine, that were presented by graduate students at the University of Kentucky, and recalls the cooperation in research projects with different commercial companies and farmers. A major project mentioned was research work with nitrofurans and controlling baby pig scours (diarrhea). He discusses the veterinary science department, now located at the Gluck Equine Research Center and its willingness to support all aspects of animal husbandry. Barnhart recalls how the center was funded through a large gift from Maxwell Gluck, with "a stipulation that it be matched by the horse industry and the state", and notes that the equine industry also set up a foundation to receive future gifts and endowments for the center. He talks about Dr. Roger Dahl and his contributions to vaccine research, about the patents received for this work and the policies of the Kentucky Research Foundation on sharing patent royalties.

Barnhart then discusses the decision at U.K. to focus on agricultural research rather than developing a veterinary medicine program, and cites limited resources at most universities as the reason for concentrating on one program or the other. He talks about several of his graduate students at U.K. from the period of 1957-1964, discusses their research work at U.K., their subsequent careers, some of the problems encountered with doctoral research, and describes the graduate teaching assistant contractual agreement. Barnhart mentions Abraham Lincoln as the visionary in the start and support of the land grant systems. He talks about the impact of land grant agricultural work, agriculture's role in the world hunger problem, and criticism of agribusiness and agri-research. He states both industries have done so well that it is now more difficult to get funding for future research. Barnhart relates the participation of women and blacks in the agriculture programs across the country in relation to other university programs and mentions affirmative action forming at the time he transferred to administration.

Interview LC Subject

Barnhart, Charles E., 1923- Barnhart, Charles E., 1923- --Interviews Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History Agriculture

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