Interview with Charles E. Barnhart, August 5, 1997

Interview Summary

In this session, Dr. Charles E. Barnhart discusses the development of the graduate program in the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture. He indicated that his involvement from the administrative point of view actually started prior to being appointed Dean in 1969. He talks about the graduate programs always being closely associated with the research program. Barnhart states he began working with the graduate programs from a college standpoint while he was associated with the Agricultural Experiment Station, and says he was a member of the Animal Science Faculty during the time when the department "made its major move towards developing a first class graduate program", during the 1950's.

Barnhart states that at the time the only two departments with doctoral programs in the College of Agriculture were Animal Science and Agricultural Economics. He discusses the development in the late 1960's of the various disciplines at the graduate and doctorate level while Dr. A. D. Kirwan was Dean of the Graduate School. Barnhart mentions the development of the Forestry Research Program during the administrations of Governor Bert T. Combs and Governor Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt, Jr. He talks about the creation of the Kentucky Tobacco Research Board, why it was created, and how Congressman William H. Natcher's support for federal funding for tobacco research made a significant contribution to these newly approved graduate programs. Barnhart describes the development and selection of faculty appointments to the agricultural graduate program during this period. He talks about budget appropriation and salary adjustment problems in the College of Agriculture during Dr. Otis A. Singletary's tenure, point out that other states have the same problems with central administration in overseeing the cooperative state-federal programs that have matching money.

Interview LC Subject

Agriculture. Barnhart, Charles E., 1923- Barnhart, Charles E., 1923- --Interviews Tobacco 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.