Interview with William F. Caulder, June 23, 1987

Interview Summary

Mr. Caulder's family has been involved in the thoroughbred horse industry since the time of slavery when his paternal grandfather, a slave on Hamburg Place, managed the farm after emancipation. He discusses his career within the industry; working his way through a year and a half at college shoeing horses; horseshoer at Lexington's Red Mile trotting track until 1968; Calumet Farm, Hamburg Place and Spendthrift; working for Dr. Haggard; and the treatment he has received from his employers.

He talks about the employment opportunities within the industry for a person willing to work hard and the lack of interest he has noted among the younger generation for occupations requiring hard, physical labor.

Mr. Caulder reminisces about his family and the homeplace, which has stayed within the family since 1867; attending Russel and Constitution elementary schools before graduation from Lexington Dunbar; the importance of religious faith in his life; and growing up in a small, rural integrated community. Active in the civil rights movement, Mr. Caulder recalls his chairmanship of the Lexington Human Rights Commission; the changes brought to Lexington; adoption of the non-violent approach and how it worked; and his opposition to urban renewal and the destruction of African American neighborhoods. He recalls the reasons for the disappearance of the African American business district on Deweese Street; the loss of African American professionals, and the tradesmen and businessmen he has known.

Interview Keyword

African Americans African Americans in Lexington Lexington, Kentucky Race relations

Interview LC Subject

African American families African Americans--Civil rights--Kentucky African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington African Americans--Kentucky--Lexington--Economic conditions African Americans--Religion Caulder, William F., 1915-2001 Caulder, William F., 1915-2001--Interviews African Americans African Americans--Race identity

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Interview Usage

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