Interview with Kenneth Vanlandingham, May 3, 1978

Interview Summary

Dr. Kenneth Vanlandingham, professor of political science at the University of Kentucky, discusses several aspects of his career in academia. He talks about coming to UK as a student in 1938 before attending the University of Illinois to obtain his PhD. Vanlandingham taught high school and was a professor at Florida State University before returning to teach at UK.

Vanlandingham compares UK presidents Frank McVey, Herman Donovan, Frank Dickey, John Oswald, and Albert Kirwan. He discusses their personalities as well as their abilities as presidents of the university. He talks about the overemphasis on athletics at the university. He discusses the effects of McCarthyism and political pressure on academic freedom. He discusses the controversy surrounding another political science professor, Gladys Kammerer. Vanlandingham discusses the effects of integration at UK, and talks about students' changing attitudes concerning political activity. He talks about several issues affecting UK faculty, including a mandatory retirement age and the increased emphasis on publishing and research.

Interview LC Subject

University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History Vanlandingham, Kenneth Vanlandingham, Kenneth--Interviews

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.