Interview with John W. Oswald, August 11, 1987

Interview Summary

Dr. John Oswald was president of the University of Kentucky from 1963-1968. In this interview he discusses his inauguration as president and his goals for the university. He discusses at length his policy of rotating heads of departments every few years. He discusses some of the cases which resulted in controversy or conflict, including Dr. Thomas D. Clark and Lyman Ginger, among others. He talks about why he made the decision to remove them from their posts as chairmen of their departments, their reactions to the news, and whether he would have handled each situation differently. He talks about various conflicts he encountered in the colleges of Education and Pharmacy, as well as with the University School of Education run by the College of Education.

Oswald discusses his wife, Rosanel (Rose) Oswald. He talks about her role as First Lady of the university, her appointment as chairman of the State Arts Commission, and her work for women's rights. He talks about Rose's role as his primary advisor during his presidency. He discusses his and Rose's dislike of the president's house, Maxwell Place, at the University of Kentucky. He discusses their reasons for wanting to live elsewhere, and the controversy that occurred when they began renting another house during Rose's recuperation from her health issues.

Interview LC Subject

Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995 Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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