Interview with Mary Sheehan Jones, John Paul Jones, November 29, 1977

Interview Summary

John Paul Jones and Mary Sheehan Jones are both 1941 graduates of the University of Kentucky. Mary majored in Commerce, while John was an engineering student. Mary states that she attended UK, because it was close to home, but John decided to go to UK because there were no better options for an engineering degree in the state of Kentucky. John recalls freshmen hazing during which freshmen men had to wear a hat or have their head shaved.

Both John and Mary remember that approximately seventy-five percent of the students lived in the dorms. They state that students were very concerned about the growing threat of Hitler and Nazism in Europe. John discusses ROTC training on campus and recalls that at time all male students had to serve for two years in the ROTC on campus.

John also describes the department of engineering at UK at that time, and remembers the yearly trip to Boonesboro during which members of the engineering department played baseball. Mary Jones recalls attending teas at Maxwell Place. They talk about voting for student government and remember that you did not necessarily need to be a member of a fraternity or sorority to get elected to a student government office. John and Mary explain that there was no lack of social activities on campus and mention The Paddock, the Rose Street Grill, and Canary Cottage as college hangouts. They recall cultural activities such as plays and concerts which took place in Lexington. John remembers that students were concerned with politics at that time, and describes A.B. "Happy" Chandler's influence on students. John and Mary discuss several female faculty members including "Honey" Smith in English and Dr. Pence of the Mathematics Department. They also describe the role of athletics on campus. John remembers that Adolph Rupp was building the basketball team and the football team was struggling to win.

Interview Keyword

University of Kentucky

Interview LC Subject

Jones, John Paul Jones, John Paul--Interviews Jones, Mary Sheehan Jones, Mary Sheehan--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.