Interview with Barbara McVey Hitchcock, August 10, 1972

Interview Summary

Mrs. Barbara McVey Hitchcock is a niece of Dr. Frank L. McVey. Other family members are present and sometimes contribute during this interview. Hitchcock reminisces about her early life, her parents and grandparents, family lore, and summer vacations with family. She recalls several visits with "Aunt Frances and Uncle Frank" McVey at Maxwell Place. Hitchcock states that she was initially terrified of "Aunt Frances" and anxious about staying with her aunt and uncle when she attended the University of Kentucky. She describes Maxwell Place in detail, and recalls many formal and informal activities held there. She mentions several students who stayed in the apartment above the garage including A. B. "Happy" Chandler, John Jacob Niles, and Jesse Stuart. Hitchcock also discusses a visit by Mrs. Eleanor (Franklin D.) Roosevelt, Mrs. Nikita Khrushchev, and Mrs. Henry Morgenthau to UK during Farmer's Week, and their attendance at the tea held for the farmer's wives. She recalls Mrs. Morgenthau and Frances Jewell McVey were classmates at Vassar College.

Hitchcock states that she traveled with McVey in support of UK's Extension Services. They visited the agricultural sub-stations, including one at Buckhorn, near Hazard, Kentucky, where shootings occurred in 1937 at the mines. She recalls a Christmas spent with the Jewell family and her first taste of green beans cooked "Southern style." Hitchcock mentions the weekly afternoon teas held at Maxwell Place each Wednesday and the Senior Breakfasts held on the lawn. She remembers lively discussions between Sarah Gibson Blanding and Frank L. McVey. She mentions the Book Thieves Club, a literary group consisting of Charles Staples, William H. Townsend, John Winston Coleman, McVey, and others. Hitchcock and other family members relate stories which illustrate McVey's sense of humor. She talks about the Guignol Theater. She mentions visits by Vice-President Alben W. Barkley. Charles Talbert records information regarding McVey's original name, which was Harry. Hitchcock mentions the death of her grandfather due to gangrene, and France Jewell McVey's funeral.

Interview LC Subject

Hitchcock, Barbara McVey Hitchcock, Barbara McVey--Interviews McVey, Frances Jewell, 1889-1945 McVey, Frank LeRond, 1869-1953 Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962 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.