Interview with Lyman V. Ginger, July 1, 1981

Interview Summary

Bruce Denbo begins this interview by reviewing some of Lyman Ginger's accomplishments. Ginger received his Ed.D. from the University of Kentucky in 1950. He was a high school principal, coached athletics, was the Director of the University School at the University of Kentucky, and the Dean of the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. Ginger was President of the National Educational Association (NEA); he was the only person to serve two terms as well as the only person to serve from Kentucky. He served as Superintendent of Public Instruction and as Chairman of the Commission for Post-Secondary Education for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He was a member of the Urban County Council.

Ginger discusses his involvement with the Minimum Foundation Program and the re-codification of school laws and practices in 1932. He talks at length about the necessity of changing the state constitution and how this was accomplished. He mentions individuals active in education who helped with this, including Robert Martin and Adrian Doran. He recalls that Earle C. Clements, Governor Lawrence Wetherby, and John Sherman Cooper were also instrumental in this effort. He emphasizes that this is the most significant event in the history of public education and the history of Kentucky in the last fifty years. He talks at length about Dean William Taylor of UK's College of Education, who was committed to education in Kentucky. Ginger recalls that Taylor encouraged his work with the Kentucky Educational Association (KEA). He mentions Horace Tate, an African American, who received his doctoral degree from UK, and is now the Executive Secretary of the Georgia Education Association. He discusses his childhood and his education in a one-room school in rural areas of Kentucky, and states that he attended Kentucky Wesleyan College. Ginger talks at length about the College of Adult and Extension Education in the 1940s and how they began to develop a plan that eventually became the community college system. He discusses the proper roles of teaching, research, and service at a university. He compares UK Presidents Herman L. Donovan, John W. Oswald, and Frank Dickey.

Interview Keyword

College administrators--Rating of College presidents College teachers--Social conditions Educational change--Kentucky Integration Teachers--Kentucky Teaching Universities and colleges--Administration. Universities and colleges--Faculty. Universities and colleges--Research University of Kentucky. College of Arts and Sciences University of Kentucky. College of Education University of Kentucky. Community College System

Interview LC Subject

Education--Kentucky Educators Ginger, Lyman V. Ginger, Lyman V.--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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Interview Usage

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