Interview with Clifford Amyx, n.d.

Interview Summary

Clifford Amyx is a University of Kentucky alum and former art professor. Amyx discusses the role of Dr. McVey in his career both as a student and as a professor. He states that he was always more comfortable calling Dr. McVey by his formal title, but he describes socializing with the McVeys at Maxwell Place. He talks about Dr. McVey's leadership style including how he handled the evolution debate at UK. Amyx describes his experiences as a student and as a member of the debate team. He was involved with formation of the Liberal Club at UK based on Paul Porter's League for Industrial Democracy. Amyx and other members passed out pamphlets regarding the LID and opposition to military training. He recalls how Dr. McVey urged them to stop these activities, suggesting they think about what the consequences might be and the harm it might bring to UK. Amyx states that even the military kept an eye on their activities and came in uniform to campus.

Amyx returned to UK in 1941 to pursue a master's degree after working at the California School of Fine Arts. He states that teaching was always his objective and mentions writing his thesis on art education. He also discusses Dr. McVey's relationship with Ted Reynolds and Ann Catton Rich of the Art Institute at the University of Chicago. Amyx talks about the Great Depression and how Dr. McVey kept people going during that period of time. Amyx remembers several instructors, and states that the good ones were totally absorbed in their subject field. He discusses various aspects of art especially sculpture mentioning the difficulties of working in relief and the challenges of optical integrity.

Interview LC Subject

Amyx, Clifford, 1909-1997 Amyx, Clifford, 1909-1997--Interviews Depressions--1929 Evarts (Ky.) McVey, Frank LeRond, 1869-1953 University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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Interview Usage

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