Interview with James C. Klotter, October 22, 1997

Interview Summary

Klotter gives his background, and the names of his parents and grandparents. He studied Kentucky History via correspondence course, and from this, became involved in Kentucky history. He discusses his various positions through the years at the Kentucky Historical Society. Klotter feels that the primary role of a historian is to spread the word that history is worth studying, that it is important and enjoyable. Beattie and Klotter discuss the value of oral history as a way of recording history, and how oral history materials are collected, interpreted, and used. He discusses the continuing sense of place that exists in Kentucky for several reasons, including the tendency for people to remain in Kentucky from generation to generation, its slowness to industrialize, its history as the first American west, and as a middle ground between the north and the south.

Interview Keyword

James Klotter Linda Beattie Oral history University of Kentucky ROTC Vietnam War Kentucky State Historian Teaching history

Interview LC Subject

Authors, American--Kentucky Intellectual life Literature Klotter, James C. Beattie, Linda Owsley County (Ky.) Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820 Klotter, Freda C., 1946- Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005 Kentucky Historical Society Hambleton Tapp Holman Hamilton Harrison, Lowell H. (Lowell Hayes), 1922-2011 Willis, Simeon S., 1879-1965

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.