Interview with Thomas D. Clark, July 1, 1986

Interview Summary

Thomas Clark reflects on his writing experiences and his passion for the South as well as the frontier. Clark describes the time period when he was writing "The Emerging South" as a very emotional time for the South. Only four years had passed since the decision of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. In addition, the South was becoming industrialized through livestock and the timber industries. Clark recalls being asked by The New York Times to make a statement on the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board.

Clark discusses many of his personal contacts and people who have helped him with his research. He talks about interviewing editors from newspapers including Ralph McGill and Harden Carter. Clark's personal contacts only added to his materials and he notes that this type of documentation could not have been found in a library. He also discusses the importance of the Southern Historical Association.

Clark touches on the Harper and Row series of books on the states to which he contributed "Kentucky: Land of Contrast" in 1966. Also in 1966, Clark was asked by Oscar Winter to take a combined position as a distinguished service professor and university historian at Indiana University. He agreed and this professorship allowed him to publish four volumes. Clark discusses various lectures he delivered which were later published, and "South Carolina: The Grand Tour" which was published in 1970.

In 1979, Clark returned to Kentucky and published "Agrarian Kentucky" which was part of the bicentennial bookshelf series. In the following year, he published "The Historic Maps of Kentucky." Clark describes "The Greening of the South" as a combination of all his interests and which was a result of his first-hand experience and knowledge. He discusses working on his autobiography and various friends he has remembered through the process. Clark also recalls various practical jokes he and his friends played on one another.

Interview Keyword

African Americans--Civil rights--Southern States Agrarians (Group of writers) Authors. Authorship. Books--Reviews. College teachers as authors. College teachers--Workload Guthrie, A. B., Jr. (Alfred Bertram), 1901-1991 Historiography. Indiana University

Interview LC Subject

Agricultural innovations. Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005 Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005--Interviews Regionalism--Southern States Southern States--Race relations University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

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