Interview with William G. Finn, May 18, 1978

Interview Summary

William Finn came to the University of Kentucky in 1918 for military training during World War I. After contracting influenza and returning home, he came back to UK the next year to begin attending classes. In this interview he discusses his impressions of UK, and his experiences in high school that led to him choosing agriculture as his major. He describes some of his favorite professors at the university and talks about their influence on his career. He discusses social activities at the university, including athletics, honorary fraternities, and The Strollers theater group.

Finn discusses the interest in politics on campus and talks about controversial speakers visiting Lexington, including William Jennings Bryan, a major player in the debate over the teaching of evolution. He talks about the effects of World War I on the university.

Finn talks about attending Iowa State University to obtain his masters degree before returning to the University of Kentucky to teach. He discusses the relationship between UK and farmers. He says that the university provided research and statistics to the farmers regarding which crops to plant and when to plant them. He discusses the financial side of agriculture, including the Agricultural Adjustment Act and the effects of the Great Depression on the agriculture industry.

Interview LC Subject

Finn, William G. Finn, William G.--Interviews 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.