Interview with Raymond Dudley Johnson, February 7, 1997

Interview Summary

Raymond Dudley Johnson was an Assistant Director of University Extension at the University of Kentucky. He started working for the university in 1952 under Louis Clifton, and states that his first responsibility was setting up classes all over the state. He recalls going to Barbourville to coordinate some classes and explains that the superintendent had some black students that he wanted to enroll in the course. Johnson remembers that he was concerned because although the Lyman T. Johnson case in 1949 had allowed black graduate students to attend the university, black undergraduate students had not been admitted. Yet, Johnson states that President Herman L. Donovan felt that it was the right thing to do.

Johnson talks about teaching classes in Cumberland and remembers that they were integrated. He describes two of the black students whom he was particularly fond of, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, who were both educators. Johnson talks about his personal views on race and explains that he grew up in Sparta, Tennessee and had both black and white neighbors. Johnson also recalls establishing extension classes in Hopkinsville and Cumberland, Kentucky, and states that there were no complaints from professors in extension about having to teach African American students.

Johnson talks more generally about University Extension, and explains the differences between correspondence and extension courses. He recalls that University Extension also coordinated the high school speech league and the high school music league. He remembers that University Extension held some classes at Ft. Knox. He explains the process of starting a new extension course. Johnson states that people, most often superintendents of school districts, would contact him and ask for a course in their area. Yet, Johnson also recalls that Kelly Thompson at Western Kentucky University invited UK Extension to teach classes on their campus. He discusses the differences between students in different parts of Kentucky. He remembers the integration of UK. He also describes the politics behind the placement of the community colleges throughout the state, and recalls an argument between Thomas D. Clark and himself.

Interview LC Subject

Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005 Johnson, Raymond Dudley Johnson, Raymond Dudley--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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