Interview with Jacqueline P. Bull, June 18, 1986

Interview Summary

In this interview, Jacqueline P. Bull discusses her professional career as a librarian and as Head of Special Collections and Archives at the University of Kentucky. After her graduation in 1934, Bull became Ms. Margaret I. King's secretary and a typist in the cataloging department. After three years, Bull became the assistant reference librarian while she continued to work on her master's degree. She recalls that Dr. Thomas D. Clark encouraged her to obtain her doctorate instead and was able to find Bull a fellowship. Through this fellowship, she was able to travel to other universities to see their depositories. Bull was able to visit Vanderbilt, University of Georgia, Duke, and the University of Virginia. After finishing her degree, Bull became Head of the new Department of Archives which later became known as the Department of Special Collections and Archives.

Bull describes many of the collections she encountered while working in the library and how they were obtained. The Henry Clay letters and the Thomas D. Clark county store records were the first collections that Bull started working with, although her first big collection was Judge Samuel Wilson's library. Bull also describes how Professor Gillis tried to preserve the history of the university by interviewing retired professors and former students. She recalls other important collections and artifacts like the Alben Barkley collection, various state documents from the state library, Judge Lindsay's library, and the Pratt diary.

Bull reflects on the advancement of UK's Special Collections and Archives. She states that during the Great Depression the library had no money in their book budget. Bull talks about her strong appreciation for the library and states that she believes that good primary research materials are needed to create great graduate students. She also describes how UK's Special Collections and Archives were able to promote the university and save the history of the state of Kentucky.

Interview Keyword

Academic librarians Academic libraries. College benefactors College facilities. College students--Books and reading. Library resources. Private libraries Rare books. Universities and colleges--Finance Universities and colleges--Research University of Kentucky. Libraries University of Kentucky. Libraries. Division of Special Collections and Archives Wilson, Samuel Mackay, 1871-1946

Interview LC Subject

Bull, Jacqueline, 1911-1987 Bull, Jacqueline, 1911-1987--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History Academic libraries. College facilities. University of Kentucky. Libraries Universities and colleges--Finance Library resources. University of Kentucky. Libraries. Division of Special Collections and Archives Academic librarians

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.