Interview with Thomas D. Clark, February 4, 1986

Interview Summary

Thomas Clark discusses the development of the archive department at the University of Kentucky. He first started listing materials and doing a checklist on a congressional serial set in the summer of 1929. In 1931, Clark was hired by Dr. Frank McVey to be a collector for the library and professor in the history department. Immediately, Clark was traveling throughout the South collecting manuscripts and various documents.

Clark describes collections that have been put together for the university. He talks about putting together the Kentucky Acts as well as the House and Senate Journals. Clark also discusses how he obtained Judge Simon's book collection, the Pratt diary and the Wilson collection. He describes how the department had no money for travel, salaries or purchases so Clark bought some books with money out of his own pocket. Clark also touches on the formation of the rare book department.

Interview Keyword

Academic librarians Academic libraries. College administrators College facilities. College teachers--Workload Library resources. New Deal, 1933-1939--Kentucky Rare books. Universities and colleges--Administration. Universities and colleges--Finance Universities and colleges--Research University of Kentucky. Libraries

Interview LC Subject

Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005 Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005--Interviews General stores 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.