Interview with Virginia Sharp Arnett, May 14, 2018

Interview Summary

Virginia Sharp Arnett describes her childhood in Williamsburg, Kentucky including her early musical influences, her first musical performance, the types of entertainment her family had as a child, and how her father, as a member of the school board in Williamsburg, Kentucky, helped to desegregate the town's schools in 1955, prior to the Civil Rights Movement. She talks about earning a scholarship to the University of Kentucky School of Music in 1963. She describes her professors and the musical groups she joined. Arnett talks about the students' protest when Sara Holroyd was denied tenure in 1966. She talks about how Sara Holroyd's tenure challenge impacted her views on her life and career. She talks about how her daughters, as women, had more opportunities than she did in the 1960s.

Interview Keyword

Radio programs. Television programs Recreation Marriage Sara Holroyd Phyllis Jenness Phil Miller Aimo Kiviniemi Donald Ivey College choice

Interview LC Subject

Childhood Williamsburg (Ky.) University of Kentucky Music. Musicians Music--Instruction and study. Music--Performance. Musical performance College environment College students--Economic conditions College students--Social conditions Education, Higher--Kentucky Women in higher education. Women--Education (Higher) Sexism in higher education Sex discrimination in higher education. Families Universities and colleges--Faculty College students--Attitudes College students--Conduct of life College teachers

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 only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.