Interview with Charles A. Bickel, November 30, 1977

Interview Summary

Charles A. Bickel is a 1905 graduate of the Kentucky State College (now the University of Kentucky). He attended Manual Training High School in Louisville and explains that he decided to pursue a degree at State College because he received a full scholarship. He majored in engineering. Bickel describes his living arrangement while he was a student. He and a roommate lived in a boarding house on North Limestone next to Hamilton College, which was a woman's college. He recalls some of the classes that he took including history and mathematics, and he describes the annual field trips taken by the engineering students. Bickel discusses his senior thesis and faculty members including Dean F. Paul Anderson. Bickel also recalls a history professor who was nearly blind and subject to pranks by the students.

Bickel remembers that the students did not care much for James K. Patterson who was the president of the University. He describes the strenuous schedule for the engineering students stating that he felt like he was on vacation by the time he got a full-time job. He recalls where the bars were on North Limestone, but states that he did not see a lot of drunkenness on campus. He describes student pranks, but sees the students of that time period as more serious than later college students. He discusses athletics and the rivalry with Kentucky University (now Transylvania University). Bickel also remembers commencement and the sole female student in his engineering classes.

Interview Keyword

University of Kentucky

Interview LC Subject

Bickel, Charles A. Bickel, Charles A.--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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