Interview with Levi Jackson Horlacher, January 8, 1974

Interview Summary

Professor Levi Jackson Horlacher is Dean Emeritus of the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture. He came to the Department of Animal Husbandry at UK in June of 1918. Horlacher remembers President Frank McVey and Dean Thomas Poe Cooper "set a good example" for young faculty members. He states that McVey and Cooper earned the acceptance as well as respect of the people of Kentucky, even though they were Northerners. Horlacher remembers McVey's last commencement address, given at Stoll Field during a rainstorm.

Horlacher describes the teas hosted by the McVey's at Maxwell Place, especially one for Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt when she came to speak at the Farm and Home Convention. He talks at length about President McVey, and notes that many people thought he was aloof, although Horlacher feels that he may just have been shy. Horlacher recalls the purchase of the land for the Experiment Station, and explains that McVey decided to acquire it due to concern that it would be subdivided. Horlacher mentions the conflict between the College of Agriculture and the Experiment Station while Fred Mutchler was Director and Henry Stites Barker was President. He recalls the reorganization of the College of Agriculture when Thomas Poe Cooper became the new Dean as well as Director of both Extension and the Experiment Station. Horlacher notes that the College of Extension had been a separate entity at the time, a common practice in many states. He feels this centralization of administration was necessary to better coordinate the activities of the department.

Horlacher remembers the efforts of McVey and Ezra Gillis to find a location for Memorial Hall, which was built to honor those who died in World War I. He talks about his duties in the Department of Animal Husbandry. Horlacher remembers the controversy regarding evolution, and praises McVey for how he handled the situation. He mentions several individuals involved with this, including J. W. Porter, Clarence Walker, and Noel Gaines. Horlacher recalls a similar situation occurred at the University of Tennessee, and Harcourt Morgan took the position that it was a religious matter, and that UT should not be involved. Horlacher discusses the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC), a merger of the American Association of Land Grant Colleges and State Universities with the National Association of State Universities.

Interview LC Subject

Horlacher, Levi Jackson, 1896- Horlacher, Levi Jackson, 1896- --Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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